City Comparison

Murfreesboro vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Murfreesboro

Tennessee
93
Below Average
$325,000
Median Home
$1,350/mo
Median Rent
$55,200
Median Income

Springfield

Oregon
107
Above Average
$378,000
Median Home
$1,150/mo
Median Rent
$57,600
Median Income

The Verdict

13.1%

Living in Murfreesboro costs 13.1% less than Springfield. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Murfreesboro, you would need $86,290 in Springfield.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
85
Murfreesboro
116
Springfield
Groceries
95
Murfreesboro
101
Springfield
Utilities
89
Murfreesboro
96
Springfield
Transportation
97
Murfreesboro
107
Springfield
Healthcare
96
Murfreesboro
102
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Murfreesboro has the same purchasing power as $86,290 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $65,187 in Murfreesboro.

Living in Murfreesboro vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Murfreesboro's housing index of 85 is lower Springfield's 116, translating to median home prices of $325,000 vs $378,000. The $53,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,444 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Murfreesboro compared to $1,150/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 95 in Murfreesboro and 101 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Murfreesboro vs $480/month in Springfield. Murfreesboro offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 89 in Murfreesboro and 96 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Murfreesboro vs $384 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Murfreesboro and 102 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 $55,200 in Murfreesboro and $57,600 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,355 and $53,832 respectively. Murfreesboro residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,288/month to housing in Murfreesboro vs $1,344/month in Springfield. In Murfreesboro, median rent of $1,350/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Springfield, median rent of $1,150/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 31 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Murfreesboro is 13.1% more affordable overall with an index of 93 vs 107.
A $75,000 salary in Murfreesboro has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $86,290 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Murfreesboro's housing index is 85 with median homes at $325,000, while Springfield's is 116 with median homes at $378,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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