City Comparison

Louisville vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Louisville

Kentucky
91
Below Average
$210,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$52,238
Median Income

Springfield

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

The Verdict

16.7%

Springfield is 16.7% less expensive than Louisville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Louisville would need approximately $64,286 in Springfield to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
77
Louisville
52
Springfield
Groceries
96
Louisville
98
Springfield
Utilities
91
Louisville
98
Springfield
Transportation
100
Louisville
114
Springfield
Healthcare
93
Louisville
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Louisville has the same purchasing power as $64,286 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $87,500 in Louisville.

Living in Louisville vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Louisville's housing index of 77 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $210,000 vs $162,000. The $48,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,120 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Louisville compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $175.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Louisville and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Louisville 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 91 in Louisville and 98 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Louisville vs $392 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 93 in Louisville 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 $52,238 in Louisville and $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,404 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 $1,219/month to housing in Louisville vs $1,528/month in Springfield. In Louisville, 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 25 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 16.7% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 91.
A $75,000 salary in Louisville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $64,286 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Louisville's housing index is 77 with median homes at $210,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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