City Comparison

Brooklyn vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Brooklyn

New York
195
Very Expensive
$780,000
Median Home
$2,900/mo
Median Rent
$65,294
Median Income

Springfield

Illinois
78
Very Affordable
$162,000
Median Home
$925/mo
Median Rent
$65,500
Median Income

The Verdict

150.0%

Living in Springfield costs 150.0% less than Brooklyn. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Brooklyn, you would need $30,000 in Springfield.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
325
Brooklyn
52
Springfield
Groceries
108
Brooklyn
98
Springfield
Utilities
135
Brooklyn
98
Springfield
Transportation
108
Brooklyn
114
Springfield
Healthcare
108
Brooklyn
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Brooklyn has the same purchasing power as $30,000 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $187,500 in Brooklyn.

Living in Brooklyn vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Brooklyn's housing index of 325 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $780,000 vs $162,000. The $618,000 difference in home prices means roughly $40,176 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,900/mo in Brooklyn compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $1,975.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 108 in Brooklyn and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Brooklyn vs $466/month in Springfield. Springfield offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 135 in Brooklyn and 98 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $540 in Brooklyn vs $392 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 108 in Brooklyn and 91 in Springfield. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 17-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $65,294 in Brooklyn and $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $33,484 and $83,974 respectively. Springfield residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,524/month to housing in Brooklyn vs $1,528/month in Springfield. In Brooklyn, median rent of $2,900/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Springfield, median rent of $925/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 273 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 150.0% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 195.
A $75,000 salary in Brooklyn has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $30,000 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Brooklyn's housing index is 325 with median homes at $780,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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