Living Cost Compare
San Francisco

California

$2,750/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,750 in San Francisco, CA versus $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 66% cheaper to live in day-to-day than San Francisco, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $141,446 in San Francisco, CA and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 67% higher in San Francisco, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

San Francisco, CA
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$1,560
$760
+51% in San Francisco, CA
1 Bedroom
$2,425
$772
+68% in San Francisco, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,982
$926
+69% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$3,269
$1,158
+65% in San Francisco, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,380,500
$165,200
+88% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$141,446
$45,984
+67% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$74,260
$45,780
+38% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
39.7 yr
33.6 yr
+6.1 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
38.5%
42.9%
+4.4 pp in Springfield, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
60.1%
30.3%
+29.8 pp in San Francisco, CA
Avg Commute
31.2 min
18.0 min
+13.2 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
596.5
1,189.8
+99% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
3,962.2
4,231.6
+7% 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
57.3°F
56.3°F
+1.0°F in San Francisco, CA
Annual Precipitation
23.6 in
45.6 in
+21.9 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.43/gal
$3.94/gal
+27% in San Francisco, CA

Area: San Francisco vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

Adult base one-way fare — SF Muni vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
13.7
+59% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$24.13
+16% in Springfield, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in San Francisco, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.66
+19% in San Francisco, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Springfield, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.77
+8% in San Francisco, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.10
+4% in Springfield, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in San Francisco, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / MO)
7.25%
4.225%
+3.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
4.70%
+8.6 pp in CA

San Francisco vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in San Francisco or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 66% below San Francisco, CA's $2,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in San Francisco than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $97,000 a year in San Francisco versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, San Francisco or Springfield?
San Francisco is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).