City comparison
Richmond, VA vs Springfield, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Richmond, VA are 1.9% higher than in Springfield, MA. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MA would need about $101,900 in Richmond, VA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,507 a month in Richmond, VA versus $1,382 in Springfield, MA. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Richmond, VA and 22% in Springfield, MA.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,936 a year in VA and $4,780 in MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +8.0% moving from Richmond, VA to Springfield, MA ($111,183 → $120,094), while prices change by −1.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +10.0% in real buying power.
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
- Springfield, MA: price level 96.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Richmond, VA | Springfield, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.9 | 96.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,164 in Springfield | $101,871 in Richmond |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,507/mo | $1,382/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,460 | $51,930 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Richmond, VA | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA |
Rent areas: Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Springfield, MA MSA. Metro areas: Richmond, VA and Springfield, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Richmond | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.1 | 75.8 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 155.0 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 97.9 | 96.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Richmond, VA → Springfield, MA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.9%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$156/yr.
75 Strong offer
Springfield, MA → Richmond, VA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$156/yr.
63 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Richmond, VA is in the Richmond, VA pay area; Springfield, MA is in Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA. The last column shows what a transfer from Richmond, VA to Springfield, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Richmond, VA | Springfield, MA | Real change, Richmond → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,475 | $69,642 | +10.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,009 | $84,260 | +10.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,499 | $100,992 | +10.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,183 | $120,094 | +10.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,385 | $141,915 | +10.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Richmond, VA | Springfield, MA | Springfield pay in Richmond dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,290 | $79,640 | $81,130 (+32.4%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $127,740 | $130,130 (−1.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,220 | $92,010 | $93,731 (+11.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,580 | $98,410 | $100,251 (+7.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.