City Comparison

Sandy Springs vs Springfield

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Sandy Springs

Georgia
135
Expensive
$670,000
Median Home
$1,825/mo
Median Rent
$101,000
Median Income

Springfield

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

The Verdict

73.1%

Living in Springfield costs 73.1% less than Sandy Springs. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Sandy Springs, you would need $43,333 in Springfield.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
223
Sandy Springs
52
Springfield
Groceries
103
Sandy Springs
98
Springfield
Utilities
97
Sandy Springs
98
Springfield
Transportation
111
Sandy Springs
114
Springfield
Healthcare
105
Sandy Springs
91
Springfield

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Sandy Springs has the same purchasing power as $43,333 in Springfield.

Conversely, $75,000 in Springfield equals $129,808 in Sandy Springs.

Living in Sandy Springs vs Springfield

Housing Costs

Sandy Springs's housing index of 223 is higher Springfield's 52, translating to median home prices of $670,000 vs $162,000. The $508,000 difference in home prices means roughly $33,024 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,825/mo in Sandy Springs compared to $925/mo in Springfield, a monthly difference of $900.

Grocery & Food Costs

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

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 105 in Sandy Springs and 91 in Springfield. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 14-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $101,000 in Sandy Springs and $65,500 in Springfield. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $74,815 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 $2,357/month to housing in Sandy Springs vs $1,528/month in Springfield. In Sandy Springs, median rent of $1,825/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 171 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 73.1% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 135.
A $75,000 salary in Sandy Springs has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $43,333 in Springfield, based on the cost of living difference.
Sandy Springs's housing index is 223 with median homes at $670,000, while Springfield's is 52 with median homes at $162,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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