Raleigh vs Springfield
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Raleigh
Springfield
The Verdict
Springfield is 21.4% less expensive than Raleigh overall. A household earning $75,000 in Raleigh would need approximately $61,765 in Springfield to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Raleigh has the same purchasing power as $61,765 in Springfield.
Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $91,071 in Raleigh.
Living in Raleigh vs Springfield
Housing Costs
Raleigh's housing index of 107 is higher Springfield's 67, translating to median home prices of $370,000 vs $225,000. The $145,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,420 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Raleigh compared to $950/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $550.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Raleigh and 94 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Raleigh vs $447/month in Springfield. Springfield offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Raleigh and 79 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Raleigh vs $316 in Springfield. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Raleigh and 116 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 $67,266 in Raleigh and $46,000 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,947 and $54,762 respectively. Raleigh residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,570/month to housing in Raleigh vs $1,073/month in Springfield. In Raleigh, median rent of $1,500/mo fits within this budget. In Springfield, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 40 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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