City Comparison

Odessa vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Odessa

Texas
85
Very Affordable
$223,000
Median Home
$1,150/mo
Median Rent
$73,500
Median Income

Springfield

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

The Verdict

9.0%

Springfield is 9.0% less expensive than Odessa overall. A household earning $75,000 in Odessa would need approximately $68,824 in Springfield to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
72
Odessa
52
Springfield
Groceries
96
Odessa
98
Springfield
Utilities
100
Odessa
98
Springfield
Transportation
93
Odessa
114
Springfield
Healthcare
96
Odessa
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

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

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $81,731 in Odessa.

Living in Odessa vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Odessa's housing index of 72 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $223,000 vs $162,000. The $61,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,960 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,150/mo in Odessa compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $225.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Odessa and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Odessa 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 100 in Odessa and 98 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Odessa vs $392 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Odessa 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 $73,500 in Odessa and $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $86,471 and $83,974 respectively. Odessa residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,715/month to housing in Odessa vs $1,528/month in Springfield. In Odessa, median rent of $1,150/mo fits within this budget. In Springfield, median rent of $925/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 21 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 Odessa has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $68,824 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Odessa's housing index is 72 with median homes at $223,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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