City Comparison

Orem vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Orem

Utah
117
Above Average
$528,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$86,000
Median Income

Springfield

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

The Verdict

50.0%

Springfield is 50.0% less expensive than Orem overall. A household earning $75,000 in Orem would need approximately $50,000 in Springfield to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
147
Orem
52
Springfield
Groceries
98
Orem
98
Springfield
Utilities
92
Orem
98
Springfield
Transportation
108
Orem
114
Springfield
Healthcare
95
Orem
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Orem has the same purchasing power as $50,000 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $112,500 in Orem.

Living in Orem vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Orem's housing index of 147 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $528,000 vs $162,000. The $366,000 difference in home prices means roughly $23,796 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Orem compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $475.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Orem and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Orem 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 Orem and 98 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Orem vs $392 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 95 in Orem 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 $86,000 in Orem and $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,504 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 $2,007/month to housing in Orem vs $1,528/month in Springfield. In Orem, median rent of $1,400/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 95 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 50.0% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 117.
A $75,000 salary in Orem has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $50,000 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Orem's housing index is 147 with median homes at $528,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases