City Comparison

Canton vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Canton

Ohio
79
Very Affordable
$120,000
Median Home
$775/mo
Median Rent
$41,500
Median Income

Springfield

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

The Verdict

1.3%

Springfield is 1.3% less expensive than Canton overall. A household earning $75,000 in Canton would need approximately $74,051 in Springfield to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
48
Canton
52
Springfield
Groceries
104
Canton
98
Springfield
Utilities
101
Canton
98
Springfield
Transportation
94
Canton
114
Springfield
Healthcare
103
Canton
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Canton has the same purchasing power as $74,051 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $75,962 in Canton.

Living in Canton vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Canton's housing index of 48 is lower Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $120,000 vs $162,000. The $42,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,736 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $775/mo in Canton compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $150.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 104 in Canton and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Canton vs $466/month in Springfield. Springfield offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 101 in Canton and 98 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $404 in Canton vs $392 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 103 in Canton and 91 in Springfield. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $41,500 in Canton and $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $52,532 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 $968/month to housing in Canton vs $1,528/month in Springfield. In Canton, median rent of $775/mo fits within this budget. In Springfield, median rent of $925/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 20 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 1.3% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 79.
A $75,000 salary in Canton has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $74,051 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Canton's housing index is 48 with median homes at $120,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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