City Comparison

Clarksville vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Clarksville

Tennessee
89
Below Average
$304,000
Median Home
$1,225/mo
Median Rent
$63,700
Median Income

Springfield

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

The Verdict

14.1%

The cost gap between these cities is 14.1%, with Springfield being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Clarksville has equivalent purchasing power to $65,730 in Springfield.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
91
Clarksville
52
Springfield
Groceries
100
Clarksville
98
Springfield
Utilities
103
Clarksville
98
Springfield
Transportation
91
Clarksville
114
Springfield
Healthcare
93
Clarksville
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Clarksville has the same purchasing power as $65,730 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $85,577 in Clarksville.

Living in Clarksville vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Clarksville's housing index of 91 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $304,000 vs $162,000. The $142,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,228 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,225/mo in Clarksville compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $300.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Clarksville and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Clarksville vs $466/month in Springfield. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 103 in Clarksville and 98 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $412 in Clarksville vs $392 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 93 in Clarksville and 91 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 $63,700 in Clarksville and $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $71,573 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 $1,486/month to housing in Clarksville vs $1,528/month in Springfield. In Clarksville, median rent of $1,225/mo fits within this budget. In Springfield, median rent of $925/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 39 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 14.1% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 89.
A $75,000 salary in Clarksville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $65,730 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Clarksville's housing index is 91 with median homes at $304,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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