City comparison
Springfield, MO vs St. Louis, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in St. Louis, MO are 7.3% higher than in Springfield, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MO would need about $107,300 in St. Louis, MO to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $995 a month in St. Louis, MO versus $883 in Springfield, MO. On $100,000, that's 16% of take-home pay in St. Louis, MO and 14% in Springfield, MO.
- Both are in MO, so estimated state income tax is the same: $3,763 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +2.5% moving from Springfield, MO to St. Louis, MO ($106,437 → $109,137), while prices change by +7.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.5% in real buying power.
- Springfield, MO: price level 88.6 (much cheaper)
- St. Louis, MO: price level 95.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Springfield, MO | St. Louis, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 88.6 | 95.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,341 in St. Louis | $93,161 in Springfield |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $883/mo | $995/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,417 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,763 (MO) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,780 | $49,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL |
Rent areas: Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area and St. Louis, MO-IL HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Springfield, MO and St. Louis, MO-IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Springfield | St. Louis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 65.6 | 79.0 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 100.0 |
| Utilities | 85.8 | 69.9 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 88.6 | 95.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Springfield, MO → St. Louis, MO
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.8%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
47 Fair offer
St. Louis, MO → Springfield, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.3%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
92 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Springfield, MO is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; St. Louis, MO is in St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL. The last column shows what a transfer from Springfield, MO to St. Louis, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Springfield, MO | St. Louis, MO | Real change, Springfield → St. Louis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $63,288 | −4.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $76,573 | −4.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $91,779 | −4.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $109,137 | −4.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $128,967 | −4.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Springfield, MO | St. Louis, MO | St. Louis pay in Springfield dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $49,380 | $60,650 | $56,502 (+14.4%) |
| Software Developers | $102,350 | $129,030 | $120,206 (+17.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,020 | $78,880 | $73,485 (+0.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,370 | $83,180 | $77,491 (−2.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.