Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or Springfield?

Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Rochester than in Springfield?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rochester versus $31,000 in Springfield.

Which has lower taxes, Rochester or Springfield?

Rochester is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Rochester vs Springfield Cost of Living 2026

Rochester

New York

$1,160/mo est.

Springfield

Missouri

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,160 in Rochester, NY versus $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, NY, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $46,628 in Rochester, NY and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 1% higher in Rochester, NY. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Rochester, NY

Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio

$750

$760

+1% in Springfield, MO

1 Bedroom

$857

$772

+10% in Rochester, NY

2 Bedroom

$1,114

$926

+17% in Rochester, NY

3 Bedroom

$1,240

$1,158

+7% in Rochester, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$120,600

$165,200

+37% in Springfield, MO

Income

Median Household Income

$46,628

$45,984

+1% in Rochester, NY

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,210

$45,780

+11% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.5 yr

33.6 yr

+0.1 yr in Springfield, MO

Homeownership

37.2%

42.9%

+5.7 pp in Springfield, MO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

29.9%

30.3%

+0.4 pp in Springfield, MO

Avg Commute

18.9 min

18.0 min

+0.9 min in Rochester, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

690

1,189.8

+72% in Springfield, MO

Property Crime

3,533.4

4,231.6

+20% in Springfield, MO

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

48.2°F

56.3°F

+8.1°F in Springfield, MO

Annual Precipitation

34.3 in

45.6 in

+11.3 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.04/gal

$3.94/gal

+3% in Rochester, NY

Area: New York vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.9

13.7

+54% in Rochester, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.74

$24.13

+6% in Springfield, MO

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Rochester, NY

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Springfield, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Rochester, NY

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Rochester, NY

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Rochester, NY

Average prices — Northeast vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NY / MO)

4.225%

+0.2 pp in MO

Income Tax (top rate)

10.90%

4.70%

+6.2 pp in NY

Rochester vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rochester or Springfield?: Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Rochester, NY's $1,160, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rochester than in Springfield?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rochester versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Rochester or Springfield?: Rochester is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).