Boston vs Springfield
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Boston
Springfield
The Verdict
Living in Springfield costs 92.9% less than Boston. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Boston, you would need $38,889 in Springfield.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Boston has the same purchasing power as $38,889 in Springfield.
Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $144,643 in Boston.
Living in Boston vs Springfield
Housing Costs
Boston's housing index of 242 is higher Springfield's 67, translating to median home prices of $620,000 vs $225,000. The $395,000 difference in home prices means roughly $25,680 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,800/mo in Boston compared to $950/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $1,850.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 108 in Boston and 94 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Boston vs $447/month in Springfield. Springfield offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $792/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Boston and 79 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Boston vs $316 in Springfield. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 118 in Boston and 116 in Springfield. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $76,298 in Boston and $46,000 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $47,098 and $54,762 respectively. Springfield residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,780/month to housing in Boston vs $1,073/month in Springfield. In Boston, median rent of $2,800/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Springfield, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 175 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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