Is it cheaper to live in Spokane or Springfield?

Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Spokane, WA's $1,070, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Spokane versus $31,000 in Springfield.

Which has lower taxes, Spokane or Springfield?

Spokane is taxed under Washington's rules (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Spokane vs Springfield Cost of Living 2026

Spokane

Washington

$1,070/mo est.

Springfield

Missouri

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,070 in Spokane, WA versus $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Spokane, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,745 in Spokane, WA and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 30% higher in Spokane, WA. Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Spokane, WA

Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio

$884

$760

+14% in Spokane, WA

1 Bedroom

$903

$772

+15% in Spokane, WA

2 Bedroom

$1,192

$926

+22% in Spokane, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,442

$1,158

+20% in Spokane, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$326,200

$165,200

+49% in Spokane, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$65,745

$45,984

+30% in Spokane, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,660

$45,780

+16% in Spokane, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.2 yr

33.6 yr

+3.6 yr in Spokane, WA

Homeownership

58.3%

42.9%

+15.4 pp in Spokane, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.6%

30.3%

+2.3 pp in Spokane, WA

Avg Commute

21.2 min

18.0 min

+3.2 min in Spokane, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

683.6

1,189.8

+74% in Springfield, MO

Property Crime

4,931.8

4,231.6

+14% in Spokane, WA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

48.9°F

56.3°F

+7.4°F in Springfield, MO

Annual Precipitation

17.8 in

45.6 in

+27.8 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.12/gal

$3.94/gal

+23% in Spokane, WA

Area: Washington vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

13.7

+8% in Spokane, WA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.41

$24.13

+18% in Springfield, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Spokane, WA

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.66

+19% in Spokane, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Springfield, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.77

+8% in Spokane, WA

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.10

+4% in Springfield, MO

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Spokane, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WA / MO)

6.5%

4.225%

+2.3 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.70%

+4.7 pp in MO

Spokane vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Spokane or Springfield?: Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Spokane, WA's $1,070, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Spokane than in Springfield?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Spokane versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Spokane or Springfield?: Spokane is taxed under Washington's rules (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).