City Comparison

Springfield vs Sugar Land

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Springfield

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

Sugar Land

Texas
110
Above Average
$456,000
Median Home
$1,625/mo
Median Rent
$128,400
Median Income

The Verdict

29.1%

Springfield is 29.1% less expensive than Sugar Land overall. A household earning $75,000 in Springfield would need approximately $105,769 in Sugar Land to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Springfield
128
Sugar Land
Groceries
98
Springfield
99
Sugar Land
Utilities
98
Springfield
96
Sugar Land
Transportation
114
Springfield
101
Sugar Land
Healthcare
91
Springfield
96
Sugar Land

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Springfield has the same purchasing power as $105,769 in Sugar Land.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sugar Land equals $53,182 in Springfield.

Living in Springfield vs Sugar Land

Housing Costs

Springfield's housing index of 52 is lower Sugar Land's 128, translating to median home prices of $162,000 vs $456,000. The $294,000 difference in home prices means roughly $19,116 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $925/mo in Springfield compared to $1,625/mo in Sugar Land, a monthly difference of $700.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Springfield and 99 in Sugar Land. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Springfield vs $470/month in Sugar Land. 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 98 in Springfield and 96 in Sugar Land. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Springfield vs $384 in Sugar Land. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 91 in Springfield and 96 in Sugar Land. 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 $65,500 in Springfield and $128,400 in Sugar Land. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $83,974 and $116,727 respectively. Sugar Land residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,528/month to housing in Springfield vs $2,996/month in Sugar Land. In Springfield, median rent of $925/mo fits within this budget. In Sugar Land, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 76 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 29.1% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 110.
A $75,000 salary in Springfield has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $105,769 in Sugar Land, based on the cost of living difference.
Springfield's housing index is 52 with median homes at $162,000, while Sugar Land's is 128 with median homes at $456,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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