Springfield, MO vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living Comparison
Considering a move, and debating between Chicago and Springfield? Or thinking about moving from Chicago to the Ozarks? Here you can compare the cost of living in Springfield, MO vs Chicago, IL, including housing, income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, and everyday expenses.
Use the calculator below to see how the numbers compare.
What people compare
Cost of living detail
What is personal property tax?
Missouri taxes movable property you own every year, mainly vehicles, boats, RVs and trailers. Real estate is taxed separately. You report what you own to the county assessor, and the bill is due by December 31.
The assessed value is one-third of the item's trade-in value, and the local tax rate, expressed per $100 of assessed value, is applied to that. Springfield's rate for 2025 is $4.982 per $100.
Illinois does not charge personal property tax, so Chicago shows none (Chicago does charge an annual city vehicle sticker, which is not included). This calculator assumes vehicles only. If you own a boat, RV or trailer, add its value to "Value of your vehicles" under Adjust these assumptions.
Where the year goes
Taxes and housing payments only. Everyday costs are excluded.
Costs by category
How your income is treated
Estimates for comparison, not tax advice. Missouri income tax uses 2025 tax-year brackets and the 2025 standard deduction. Illinois taxes income at a flat 4.95% after a $2,850 exemption per person (tax year 2025) with no standard deduction; extra exemptions for age 65 and older, blindness and dependents are not included.
Sales tax rates are 2026 combined state, county and city rates. Springfield's is the base rate from Avalara's rate tables, before special districts, which can add up to 2.5 points. Chicago's 10.5% is the 6.25% state rate, 1.75% Cook County, 1.25% city and 1.25% regional transit tax, which rose by 0.25 points on August 1, 2026; restaurant meals carry additional city and downtown taxes. Property tax rates are county median effective rates from the Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey (Greene County for Springfield, Cook County for Chicago, which covers the city and its suburbs). They reflect what current owners pay, so a buyer at today's prices may pay a different amount. Cook County reassesses on a rotating three-year cycle, and homestead exemptions can lower an owner-occupied bill. For a real quote, use the county's total levy rate and your price.
Similar-home pricing scales your Chicago price by the ratio of Zillow's typical single-family home values for each metro area on August 31, 2026: $377,573 for Chicago and $272,534 for Springfield. Zillow estimates these values from property records and its own models, not from sold prices. A metro area includes the suburbs, and no index matches any one house, so treat the result as a starting point. Property tax rates use county figures, which cover less area than a metro. The home price field starts at the metro's typical value, rounded to the nearest $5,000.
Price indexes are the Bureau of Economic Analysis's Regional Price Parities for 2024 (released February 2026), where 100 is the U.S. average. Springfield uses the Springfield metro area and Chicago uses the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area. BEA does not publish indexes for individual cities, so each figure describes a metro area. The everyday-cost index blends the goods and other-services indexes, weighted about 37% and 63%, which is how BEA's own metro figures break down. It leaves out tenant rents, so housing is not counted twice. The index excludes taxes, so sales tax is added separately. Missouri and Illinois both tax groceries at lower rates than other purchases; this estimate does not split that out. Not included: federal taxes, insurance, HOA fees or maintenance.
Missouri charges an annual personal property tax on vehicles, boats, RVs, trailers and similar property, and this calculator assumes vehicles only. The tax is one-third of the item's trade-in value, multiplied by the local rate per $100 of assessed value, due each December. Springfield's rate of $4.982 per $100 is the 2025 total levy for the Springfield R-12 district (the city, Springfield schools and county levies, no fire district) from the Greene County Clerk. Other districts, such as Nixa or Republic, differ. The default vehicle value is the Federal Reserve's 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances median for families that own vehicles ($27,700). Greene County households average about two cars, close to the national average, so no local adjustment is made. Missouri assesses trade-in value, which usually runs below market value, so this may run high. Illinois does not charge personal property tax on vehicles. Not included: registration fees, Chicago's annual city vehicle sticker, or sales tax paid when a vehicle is bought.
Everyday spending starts as an estimate from your total income, using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2024 Consumer Expenditure Survey. The average U.S. household spent $40,180 outside housing on food, transportation, healthcare, clothing, entertainment, personal care, education and similar items. That leaves out housing, retirement and Social Security contributions, and cash gifts, which are not everyday purchases. The estimate scales that figure to your income using the survey's five income groups, and assumes every group spends the same share of its budget on these items. It describes an average household at your income, not you, so type your own number if you know it.
Springfield, MO vs Chicago, IL: What Stands Out
What Does Your Housing Budget Buy?
One of the biggest differences in Springfield, MO vs Chicago, IL is housing.
According to Zillow, the average home value in Cook County, Illinois (Chicago’s county) is about 30% more than the average home value in Greene County, Missouri (Springfield’s county). Note that this is a snapshot and values will change.
If you’re considering a move, don’t compare home prices alone. Look at square footage, lot size, property condition, and location to get the most value.
Taxes
Taxes are another important part of the comparison.
Missouri has a graduated individual tax system, with a top marginal tax rate of 4.7%. Illinois has a single, flat income tax rate of 4.95%. That may not seem like a lot. But for a married couple making $65,000 per year, they would save $1,500 by living in Missouri over Illinois.
Also, Missouri has an edge on capital gains.
In 2025, Missouri eliminated state income taxes on capital gains. This means that Missouri residents enjoy tax-free profits on stocks, bonds, real estate, and other assets.
Of course, income taxes alone don’t give you the complete picture.
Illinois’ average, effective property tax rate is 1.88% of a home’s market value — one of the highest property tax rates in the country. For comparison, Missouri ‘s property tax rate is 0.89%, so less than one-half of Illinois’ state-wide average rate. But Chicago residents pay more in property taxes than the state average. Compared to Springfield, Missouri residents (as the calculator shows above), Chicago residents pay nearly 4 times as much in property tax.
Also, Illinois has a higher state-wide sales tax (6.25%) than Missouri (4.225%). Sales taxes will differ at the local and county level, too, so your effective sales tax will be higher than these numbers and will vary greatly.
Everyday Spending
Plus, the cost of everyday things — including groceries, utilities and transportation — can also affect your monthly expenses.
Use the calculator above to compare the categories that matter most to you and your lifestyle.
Springfield, MO vs Chicago, IL: Beyond Cost of Living Numbers
Moving from Chicago, IL to Springfield, MO isn’t simply a change in housing or overall costs. It’s a lifestyle change.
The Chicago metro area is America’s 3rd largest metropolitan area. Chicago offers the scale and amenities of a major metropolitan area, including a larger employment market, extensive shopping and entertainment options, and major airport access.
The Springfield metro is number 111, so it doesn’t have all of that. But if you’re looking for more space, a larger property or easier access to the outdoors, the area surrounding Springfield may be worth exploring.
The right choice for you, Springfield, MO vs Chicago, IL depends on what you’re looking for — not just the number on a cost-of-living calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions About Springfield, MO vs Chicago, IL
Is Springfield, Missouri cheaper than Chicago, Illinois?
Yes, in many cases. For example, a married couple earning $85,000 that buys a $380,000 home in the Chicago metro, or a comparable $275,000 home in Springfield, with 20% down, spends about $17,000 less per year in Springfield. Lower mortgage payments and property taxes account for most of the difference. Missouri’s income tax is less, at about $2,300 a year, compared to Illinois’ $3,900. Missouri charges personal property tax on vehicles, which Illinois doesn’t, but that adds only about $500 each year.
Is housing cheaper in Springfield than Chicago?
Overall, yes. Zillow’s similar home pricing data shows that a $377,573 home in the Chicago metro is $272,534 in Springfield. When comparing housing, consider not only the purchase price but also the size of the home, lot size, condition and location.
Does Missouri have an income tax?
Yes. Missouri has a graduated, individual state income tax that goes up to 4.7%. But Missouri doesn’t tax capital gains.
What should I know before moving from Chicago to Springfield?
Cost is only one part of the decision. You’ll also want to consider lifestyle preferences — smaller communities or even more rural property, for example — employment opportunities, healthcare, shopping, dining, and major airport convenience, among other things.
Thinking About Moving to the Ozarks?
Springfield and the surrounding suburbs are the biggest and most known area of the Missouri Ozarks. But there are other options in the Ozarks: Branson, West Plains, Missouri, Mountain Home, Arkansas, and lots of small, rural communities.
Explore the Moving to the Ozarks article to compare communities, understand the Missouri vs. Arkansas side of the Ozarks, and start narrowing down where you might want to live.