City Comparison

Orlando vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Orlando

Florida
100
Average
$320,000
Median Home
$1,650/mo
Median Rent
$48,080
Median Income

Springfield

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

The Verdict

28.2%

The cost gap between these cities is 28.2%, with Springfield being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Orlando has equivalent purchasing power to $58,500 in Springfield.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
104
Orlando
52
Springfield
Groceries
103
Orlando
98
Springfield
Utilities
97
Orlando
98
Springfield
Transportation
104
Orlando
114
Springfield
Healthcare
96
Orlando
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Orlando has the same purchasing power as $58,500 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $96,154 in Orlando.

Living in Orlando vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Orlando's housing index of 104 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $320,000 vs $162,000. The $158,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,272 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,650/mo in Orlando compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $725.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 103 in Orlando and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Orlando 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 97 in Orlando and 98 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Orlando vs $392 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Orlando 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 $48,080 in Orlando and $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,080 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 $1,122/month to housing in Orlando vs $1,528/month in Springfield. In Orlando, median rent of $1,650/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 52 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 28.2% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 100.
A $75,000 salary in Orlando has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $58,500 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Orlando's housing index is 104 with median homes at $320,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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