City Comparison

Salt Lake City vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Salt Lake City

Utah
107
Above Average
$440,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$60,590
Median Income

Springfield

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

The Verdict

37.2%

Living in Springfield costs 37.2% less than Salt Lake City. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Salt Lake City, you would need $54,673 in Springfield.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
120
Salt Lake City
52
Springfield
Groceries
99
Salt Lake City
98
Springfield
Utilities
88
Salt Lake City
98
Springfield
Transportation
102
Salt Lake City
114
Springfield
Healthcare
97
Salt Lake City
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Salt Lake City has the same purchasing power as $54,673 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $102,885 in Salt Lake City.

Living in Salt Lake City vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Salt Lake City's housing index of 120 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $440,000 vs $162,000. The $278,000 difference in home prices means roughly $18,072 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Salt Lake City compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $575.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Salt Lake City and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Salt Lake City 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 88 in Salt Lake City and 98 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $352 in Salt Lake City vs $392 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 97 in Salt Lake City 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 $60,590 in Salt Lake City and $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $56,626 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 $1,414/month to housing in Salt Lake City vs $1,528/month in Springfield. In Salt Lake City, median rent of $1,500/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 68 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 37.2% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 107.
A $75,000 salary in Salt Lake City has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $54,673 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Salt Lake City's housing index is 120 with median homes at $440,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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