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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. On a $30K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Missouri using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Springfield com…
#1 Ranked: Springfield — cost index 90, rent $1,209/mo, income $45,984
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $30K
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $30K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $30K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. 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.
Here's Springfield by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 90. Rent: $1,209/month. Income: $45,984/year. Home price: $238,992. Population: 112,544. The strongest category is Housing at 76; the most expensive is Healthcare at 93. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $8,232 per year vs. the national median. That's not a marginal difference — it reshapes your monthly budget.
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 $30K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market.
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.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield | $1,209 | 48% | 90 | Details |
| 2 | Independence | $1,313 | 53% | 90 | Details |
| 3 | St Louis | $1,326 | 53% | 89 | Details |
| 4 | Kansas | $1,418 | 57% | 94 | Details |
112,544 residents · Missouri
The #1 spot goes to Springfield, and the breakdown explains why. That tracks. Renters here pay $1,209/month — saving renters $8,232 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 76, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 93. The 32% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
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
Why St Louis ranks #3: the numbers tell a clear story. At 89 on the cost index, residents save roughly 23% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,326/month while the median household pulls in $55,279/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 74, though Healthcare (92) lags behind. Home prices average $179,917 — $287,453 below the national median.
152,933 residents · Missouri
Dive into Kansas's numbers: cost index 94 (18 points below national average), rent $1,418/month, income $67,449, and a home price of $245,199. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 85, while Healthcare runs 97. With 152,933 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Springfield | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $22,897 |
2Independence | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $22,897 |
3St Louis | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $22,897 |
4Kansas | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $22,897 |
Springfield ranks #1 in Missouri for this analysis with a cost index of 90 and median income of $45,984.
Yes. On a $30K salary in Springfield, rent would consume about 48% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. It's tight — consider a roommate or nearby suburb.
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 $30K in Springfield is approximately $22,897/year ($1,908/month). After median rent of $1,209/month, you'd have roughly $8,389/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.