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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. About what you'd guess. On a $100K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Missouri using 2026 census, rent…
112,544 residents · Missouri
The numbers for Springfield are straightforward: 90 on the cost index, $1,209/month — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — rent, $45,984 income. There's not much to say about that beyond the obvious. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. Fairly typical for a city this size (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
120,922 residents · Missouri
What does daily life actually cost in Independence? Start with the 26% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Housing (index 76) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 93) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $59,480 and homes at $203,383 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons.
281,754 residents · Missouri
So, St Louis. Cost index of 89, rent at $1,326/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $55,279, which is below the national median. It's fine. Not great, not bad.
152,933 residents · Missouri
So, Kansas. Cost index of 94, rent at $1,418/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $67,449, which is below the national median. About what you'd guess. That's not nothing.
#1 Ranked: Springfield — cost index 90, rent $1,209/mo, income $45,984
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield | $1,209 | 15% | 90 | Details |
| 2 | Independence | $1,313 | 16% | 90 | Details |
| 3 | St Louis | $1,326 | 16% | 89 | Details |
| 4 | Kansas | $1,418 | 17% | 94 | Details |
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. About what you'd guess. On a $100K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Missouri using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Springfield comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
A closer look at Springfield: the cost index of 90 breaks down to a Housing index of 76 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 93 (weakest). Median rent is $1,209/month — 36% below the national median — while household income sits at $45,984, meaning locals spend about 32% of income on rent. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median.
Straight up: There's a pattern hiding in these numbers — and it matters: 4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. For families with student loans, that cost gap is a second income. Below the radar, but not for long.
Keep reading — the next section adds critical context. And broadly, across Missouri, the average cost of living index is 91 — 21 points below the national median. Known for two major metros with small-city price tags, the state offers 4 tracked cities with median rents averaging $1,317/month. That's $578 less than the national average of $1,895. That's a number worth sharing with anyone who says affordable cities can't have good jobs.
Bottom line: Springfield leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $100K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
Rent in #1-ranked Springfield has increased from $1,177 to $1,209/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Springfield | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $70,497 |
2Independence | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $70,497 |
3St Louis | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $70,497 |
4Kansas | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $70,497 |
We calculate what percentage of a $100K gross salary goes to median rent. Cities where rent consumes less of your paycheck rank higher. We also factor in estimated take-home pay after federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Springfield ranks #1 in Missouri for this analysis with a cost index of 90 and median income of $45,984.
Yes. On a $100K salary in Springfield, rent would consume about 15% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Springfield (ranked #1) has a cost index of 90 and rent of $1,209/mo, while Kansas (ranked #4) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,418/mo — a 4-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Springfield is $1,209/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $686 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 4.8% state income tax, estimated take-home on $100K in Springfield is approximately $70,497/year ($5,875/month). After median rent of $1,209/month, you'd have roughly $55,989/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Springfield is $238,992, which is 5.2× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Missouri has a 4.8% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.335%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.88%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.