City Comparison

El Paso vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

El Paso

Texas
85
Very Affordable
$185,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$47,568
Median Income

Springfield

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

The Verdict

9.0%

Living in Springfield costs 9.0% less than El Paso. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in El Paso, you would need $68,824 in Springfield.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
69
El Paso
52
Springfield
Groceries
95
El Paso
98
Springfield
Utilities
93
El Paso
98
Springfield
Transportation
98
El Paso
114
Springfield
Healthcare
89
El Paso
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in El Paso has the same purchasing power as $68,824 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $81,731 in El Paso.

Living in El Paso vs Springfield

Housing Costs

El Paso's housing index of 69 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $185,000 vs $162,000. The $23,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,500 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in El Paso compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $75.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in El Paso and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in El Paso 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 93 in El Paso and 98 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in El Paso vs $392 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 89 in El Paso 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 $47,568 in El Paso and $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $55,962 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 $1,110/month to housing in El Paso vs $1,528/month in Springfield. In El Paso, median rent of $1,000/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 17 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 9.0% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 85.
A $75,000 salary in El Paso has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $68,824 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
El Paso's housing index is 69 with median homes at $185,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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