City Comparison

Kansas City vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Kansas City

Missouri
93
Below Average
$220,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$57,478
Median Income

Springfield

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

The Verdict

19.2%

Living in Springfield costs 19.2% less than Kansas City. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Kansas City, you would need $62,903 in Springfield.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
80
Kansas City
52
Springfield
Groceries
97
Kansas City
98
Springfield
Utilities
95
Kansas City
98
Springfield
Transportation
106
Kansas City
114
Springfield
Healthcare
96
Kansas City
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Kansas City has the same purchasing power as $62,903 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $89,423 in Kansas City.

Living in Kansas City vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Kansas City's housing index of 80 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $220,000 vs $162,000. The $58,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,768 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Kansas City compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $175.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Kansas City and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Kansas City 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 95 in Kansas City and 98 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Kansas City vs $392 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Kansas City 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 $57,478 in Kansas City and $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,804 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 $1,341/month to housing in Kansas City vs $1,528/month in Springfield. In Kansas City, median rent of $1,100/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 28 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 19.2% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 93.
A $75,000 salary in Kansas City has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $62,903 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Kansas City's housing index is 80 with median homes at $220,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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