Living Cost Compare
Springfield

Missouri

$940/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Springfield, MO versus $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $45,984 in Springfield, MO and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 17% higher in Wilmington, DE. Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Springfield, MO
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$760
$1,103
+45% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$772
$1,024
+33% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$926
$1,213
+31% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,158
$1,394
+20% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$165,200
$224,500
+36% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$45,984
$55,269
+20% in Wilmington, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,780
$54,310
+19% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.6 yr
37.0 yr
+3.4 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
42.9%
46.0%
+3.1 pp in Wilmington, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.3%
33.1%
+2.8 pp in Wilmington, DE
Avg Commute
18.0 min
23.0 min
+5.0 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,189.8
1,138.2
+4% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
4,231.6
3,182.4
+25% 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
56.3°F
54.9°F
+1.4°F in Springfield, MO
Annual Precipitation
45.6 in
43.1 in
+2.5 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Springfield, MO

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.7
19.4
+42% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.13
$22.51
+7% in Springfield, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Springfield, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Wilmington, DE
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Springfield, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Springfield, MO
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Springfield, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MO / DE)
4.225%
None
+4.2 pp in MO
Income Tax (top rate)
4.70%
6.60%
+1.9 pp in DE

Springfield vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Springfield or Wilmington?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Springfield than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Springfield versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Springfield or Wilmington?
Springfield is taxed under Missouri's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).