City comparison
Springfield, MA vs Tucson, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Springfield, MA (96.1) and Tucson, AZ (96.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Springfield, MA goes as far as $100,900 in Tucson, AZ.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,382 a month in Springfield, MA versus $1,081 in Tucson, AZ. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Springfield, MA and 17% in Tucson, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,489 a year higher in Springfield, MA than in Tucson, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −9.7% moving from Springfield, MA to Tucson, AZ ($120,094 → $108,455), while prices change by +0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −10.5% in real buying power.
- Springfield, MA: price level 96.1 (cheaper)
- Tucson, AZ: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Springfield, MA | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.1 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,869 in Tucson | $99,138 in Springfield |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,382/mo | $1,081/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,400 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,780 (MA) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,930 | $47,760 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | Tucson-Nogales, AZ |
Rent areas: Springfield, MA MSA and Tucson, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Springfield, MA and Tucson, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Springfield | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 75.8 | 91.8 |
| Goods | 97.0 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 155.0 | 89.5 |
| Other services | 101.2 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 96.1 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Springfield, MA → Tucson, AZ
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$2,489/yr.
66 Fair offer
Tucson, AZ → Springfield, MA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$2,489/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Springfield, MA is in the Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA pay area; Tucson, AZ is in Tucson-Nogales, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Springfield, MA to Tucson, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Springfield, MA | Tucson, AZ | Real change, Springfield → Tucson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,642 | $62,893 | −10.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,260 | $76,095 | −10.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,992 | $91,205 | −10.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,094 | $108,455 | −10.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,915 | $128,162 | −10.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Springfield, MA | Tucson, AZ | Tucson pay in Springfield dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,640 | $47,220 | $46,813 (−41.2%) |
| Software Developers | $127,740 | $123,710 | $122,644 (−4.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,010 | $76,320 | $75,662 (−17.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $98,410 | $94,110 | $93,299 (−5.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.