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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $60K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes…
#1 Ranked: Springfield — cost index 90, rent $1,209/mo, income $45,984
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Springfield | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $44,277 |
2Independence | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $44,277 |
3St Louis | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $44,277 |
4Kansas | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $44,277 |
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $60K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $60K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes). Not flashy. Just effective.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. And broadly, on a $60K 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 (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
Why Springfield ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 90 on the cost index, residents save roughly 22% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,209/month while the median household pulls in $45,984/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 76, though Healthcare (93) lags behind. Home prices average $238,992 — $228,378 below the national median.
It's a strong position — but not without footnotes. 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. Not the most exciting stat, but it matters. Over a five-year window, that difference is life-changing.
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. Can we talk about how broken the conversation around affordability is? A city gets labeled 'cheap' and suddenly everyone assumes there's a catch — bad schools, no jobs, nothing to do. But look at the income numbers here. Look at the cost categories. This isn't a budget consolation prize. It's a genuine alternative to the coastal rat race, and the data makes that case more convincingly than any think piece.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield | $1,209 | 24% | 90 | Details |
| 2 | Independence | $1,313 | 26% | 90 | Details |
| 3 | St Louis | $1,326 | 27% | 89 | Details |
| 4 | Kansas | $1,418 | 28% | 94 | Details |
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $60K 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.
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.
120,922 residents · Missouri
Independence comes in at #2. Rent is $1,313 — we had to double-check this one — a month. Household income is $59,480. The cost of living index is 90. Fairly typical for a city this size.
281,754 residents · Missouri
St Louis comes in at #3. There's not much to say about that beyond the obvious. Rent is $1,326 — for better or worse — a month. Household income is $55,279. The cost of living index is 89. That's about what we'd expect given the state context.
152,933 residents · Missouri
Here's Kansas by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 94. Rent: $1,418/month — and that's before you even look at taxes — . Income: $67,449/year. Home price: $245,199. Population: 152,933. The strongest category is Housing at 85; the most expensive is Healthcare at 97. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $5,724 per year vs. the national median. The delta here is big enough to fund a retirement account.
We calculate what percentage of a $60K 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 $60K salary in Springfield, rent would consume about 24% 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 $60K in Springfield is approximately $44,277/year ($3,690/month). After median rent of $1,209/month, you'd have roughly $29,769/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.