City Comparison

San Antonio vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

San Antonio

Texas
90
Below Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$53,420
Median Income

Springfield

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

The Verdict

15.4%

Springfield is 15.4% less expensive than San Antonio overall. A household earning $75,000 in San Antonio would need approximately $65,000 in Springfield to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
78
San Antonio
52
Springfield
Groceries
93
San Antonio
98
Springfield
Utilities
96
San Antonio
98
Springfield
Transportation
101
San Antonio
114
Springfield
Healthcare
95
San Antonio
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in San Antonio has the same purchasing power as $65,000 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $86,538 in San Antonio.

Living in San Antonio vs Springfield

Housing Costs

San Antonio's housing index of 78 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $250,000 vs $162,000. The $88,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,724 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in San Antonio compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $275.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 93 in San Antonio and 98 in Springfield. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $442/month in San Antonio 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 96 in San Antonio and 98 in Springfield. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in San Antonio vs $392 in Springfield. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 95 in San Antonio 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 $53,420 in San Antonio and $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $59,356 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 $1,246/month to housing in San Antonio vs $1,528/month in Springfield. In San Antonio, median rent of $1,200/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 26 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 15.4% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in San Antonio has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $65,000 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
San Antonio's housing index is 78 with median homes at $250,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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