City Comparison

Nashville vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Nashville

Tennessee
102
Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,600/mo
Median Rent
$59,828
Median Income

Springfield

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

The Verdict

30.8%

The cost gap between these cities is 30.8%, with Springfield being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Nashville has equivalent purchasing power to $57,353 in Springfield.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
108
Nashville
52
Springfield
Groceries
96
Nashville
98
Springfield
Utilities
92
Nashville
98
Springfield
Transportation
100
Nashville
114
Springfield
Healthcare
98
Nashville
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Nashville has the same purchasing power as $57,353 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $98,077 in Nashville.

Living in Nashville vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Nashville's housing index of 108 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $162,000. The $218,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,172 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,600/mo in Nashville compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $675.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Nashville and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Nashville 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 92 in Nashville and 98 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Nashville vs $392 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 98 in Nashville 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 $59,828 in Nashville and $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,655 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 $1,396/month to housing in Nashville vs $1,528/month in Springfield. In Nashville, median rent of $1,600/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Springfield, median rent of $925/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 56 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 30.8% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 102.
A $75,000 salary in Nashville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $57,353 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Nashville's housing index is 108 with median homes at $380,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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