Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
1 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $50K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $50K salary, 1 cities (25%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market.
#1 Ranked: Springfield — cost index 90, rent $1,209/mo, income $45,984
1 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $50K
1 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $50K 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 | 29% | 90 | Details |
| 2 | Independence | $1,313 | 32% | 90 | Details |
| 3 | St Louis | $1,326 | 32% | 89 | Details |
| 4 | Kansas | $1,418 | 34% | 94 | Details |
1 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $50K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $50K salary, 1 cities (25%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $50K salary, 1 cities (25%) 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.
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.
But the numbers also reveal: State context matters: Missouri's 4 cities average a 91 cost index with $1,317/month — we had to double-check this one — median rent and $57,048 household income. Two major metros with small-city price tags. What the trend analysis reveals: one of these cities is moving in the wrong direction.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $50K salary, 1 cities (25%) 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.
112,544 residents · Missouri
What does daily life actually cost in Springfield? Start with the 32% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. 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 $45,984 and homes at $238,992 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
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
St Louis earns its position at #3 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 89 cost index sits 23 points below the national baseline, and the $55,279 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $179,917 — $287,453 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 74, while Healthcare trails at 92.
152,933 residents · Missouri
Kansas earns its position at #4 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 94 cost index sits 18 points below the national baseline, and the $67,449 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $245,199 — $222,171 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 85, while Healthcare trails at 97.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Springfield | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $37,722 |
2Independence | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $37,722 |
3St Louis | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $37,722 |
4Kansas | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $37,722 |
We calculate what percentage of a $50K 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 $50K salary in Springfield, rent would consume about 29% 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 $50K in Springfield is approximately $37,722/year ($3,144/month). After median rent of $1,209/month, you'd have roughly $23,214/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.