What is the cost of living in Springfield, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Springfield has an overall cost of living index of 93, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Springfield has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Springfield ranks as #96 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Springfield ranks as the #240 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Springfield, check out:
Springfield Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Springfield. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Springfield is 99.
The Groceries index in Springfield is 101.
The Health index in Springfield is 78.
The Housing index in Springfield is 104.
The Transportation index in Springfield is 101.
The Utilities index in Springfield is 100.
| Living Expense | Springfield | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 93 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 78 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
Springfield Cost Of Living Compared To Illinois Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Springfield Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Springfield, IL Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Illinois, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Springfield is $163,198.
The Median Rent in Springfield is $975.
The Median Income in Springfield is $66,064.
The Home Value To Income in Springfield is 2.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Springfield is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Springfield | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $163,198 | $285,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $975 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $66,064 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.5x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Springfield, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Springfield Services costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Springfield | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.2 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.96 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $15.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $30.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Springfield Groceries costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Springfield | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.77 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.35 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.63 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.1 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $14.32 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.43 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.76 | $3.7 |
Detailed Springfield Health costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Springfield | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $120.83 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $121.67 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Springfield Transportation costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Springfield | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.6 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $72.5 | $59.92 |
Detailed Springfield Utilities costs vs. Illinois
| Item | Springfield | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $181.08 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.03 | $192.25 |
Springfield SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Springfield
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Springfield. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Jacksonville, IL has a cost of living index of 87, 0.9x Springfield.
Chatham, IL has a cost of living index of 103, 1.1x Springfield.
Lincoln, IL has a cost of living index of 88, 0.9x Springfield.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, IL | 18,014 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Chatham, IL | 14,639 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Lincoln, IL | 13,281 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Middletown, KY | 9,763 | 108 | 1.2x |
| Clinton, IL | 6,985 | 85 | 0.9x |
| Beardstown, IL | 6,169 | 83 | 0.9x |
| Mount Zion, IL | 5,660 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Carlinville, IL | 5,480 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Pana, IL | 5,217 | 84 | 0.9x |
