City Comparison

College Station vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

College Station

Texas
87
Below Average
$314,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$50,900
Median Income

Springfield

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

The Verdict

11.5%

The cost gap between these cities is 11.5%, with Springfield being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in College Station has equivalent purchasing power to $67,241 in Springfield.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
82
College Station
52
Springfield
Groceries
93
College Station
98
Springfield
Utilities
96
College Station
98
Springfield
Transportation
85
College Station
114
Springfield
Healthcare
90
College Station
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in College Station has the same purchasing power as $67,241 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $83,654 in College Station.

Living in College Station vs Springfield

Housing Costs

College Station's housing index of 82 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $314,000 vs $162,000. The $152,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,876 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in College Station compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $150.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 93 in College Station and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $442/month in College Station 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 96 in College Station and 98 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in College Station vs $392 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 90 in College Station 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 $50,900 in College Station and $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,506 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 $1,188/month to housing in College Station vs $1,528/month in Springfield. In College Station, median rent of $1,075/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 30 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 11.5% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 87.
A $75,000 salary in College Station has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $67,241 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
College Station's housing index is 82 with median homes at $314,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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