City comparison
Springfield, MO vs Youngstown, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Springfield, MO are 1.4% higher than in Youngstown, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Youngstown, OH would need about $101,400 in Springfield, MO to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $883 a month in Springfield, MO versus $771 in Youngstown, OH. On $100,000, that's 14% of take-home pay in Springfield, MO and 12% in Youngstown, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,795 a year higher in Springfield, MO than in Youngstown, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.4% moving from Springfield, MO to Youngstown, OH ($106,437 → $111,138), while prices change by −1.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.8% in real buying power.
- Springfield, MO: price level 88.6 (much cheaper)
- Youngstown, OH: price level 87.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Springfield, MO | Youngstown, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 88.6 | 87.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,656 in Youngstown | $101,363 in Springfield |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $883/mo | $771/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,417 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,763 (MO) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 12% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,780 | $43,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA |
Rent areas: Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area and Youngstown-Warren, OH MSA. Metro areas: Springfield, MO and Youngstown-Warren, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Springfield | Youngstown |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 65.6 | 53.4 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 85.8 | 96.3 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 88.6 | 87.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Springfield, MO → Youngstown, OH
Roughly even
Buying power +1.4%; rent takes 12% of take-home; state tax −$1,795/yr.
73 Strong offer
Youngstown, OH → Springfield, MO
Roughly even
Buying power −1.3%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$1,795/yr.
65 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Springfield, MO is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Youngstown, OH is in Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Springfield, MO to Youngstown, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Springfield, MO | Youngstown, OH | Real change, Springfield → Youngstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,448 | +5.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,977 | +5.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,461 | +5.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,138 | +5.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,331 | +5.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Springfield, MO | Youngstown, OH | Youngstown pay in Springfield dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $49,380 | $72,560 | $73,549 (+48.9%) |
| Software Developers | $102,350 | $107,990 | $109,462 (+6.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,020 | $73,080 | $74,076 (+1.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,370 | $78,680 | $79,752 (+0.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.