CostIndexUSA

Springfield, MO vs St. Louis, MO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMO
Springfield
88.6
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
MO
St. Louis
95.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Springfield is moderately cheaper than St. Louis — 7.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Springfield, you would need $85,900 in St. Louis. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+20.4%
Springfield
65.6
St. Louis
79
🛒 Groceries+6.2%
Springfield
94.2
St. Louis
100
🚗 Transportation+6.0%
Springfield
97.7
St. Louis
103.6
🏥 Healthcare+6.0%
Springfield
88.4
St. Louis
93.7
Utilities18.5%
Springfield
85.8
St. Louis
69.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Springfield to see what you'd need to earn in St. Louis to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in St. Louis, MO
$85,900
$5,900 more needed in St. Louis

Formula: salary × (95.1 ÷ 88.6) = salary × 1.0734. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Springfield, MO

Median Home Price
$260,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
65.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.0×

St. Louis, MO

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
79
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.6×

St. Louis has 20.4% higher housing costs compared to Springfield.

Income & Job Market

Springfield, MO

Median Household Income
$62,900
Per Capita Income
$35,900
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
167,882
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailFinance

St. Louis, MO

Median Household Income
$78,200
Per Capita Income
$44,600
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
319,294
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceManufacturingTechnologyEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Springfield, MO
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

St. Louis, MO
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.