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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Straight up: 0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. That's more or less in line with the region.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield | $1,209 | 36% | 71 | Details |
| 2 | Independence | $1,313 | 39% | 77 | Details |
| 3 | St Louis | $1,326 | 40% | 77 | Details |
| 4 | Kansas | $1,418 | 43% | 83 | Details |
#1 Ranked: Springfield — cost index 71, rent $1,209/mo, income $45,984
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Straight up: 0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. That's more or less in line with the region.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K 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. No gimmicks — just good numbers.
Dive into Springfield's numbers: cost index 71 (40 points below national average), rent $1,209/month, income $45,984, and a home price of $238,992. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 71, while Healthcare runs 94. With 112,544 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs (we double-checked this one).
The trade-off becomes clearer when you add healthcare into the mix. Missouri — two major metros with small-city price tags. The 4 cities we track here average a cost index of 77 and median income of $57,048. It's a clear buyer's market compared to national norms. The typical rent runs $1,317/month, which is $578 less than the national median.
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. That alone makes it worth considering. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Springfield | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $30,452 |
2Independence | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $30,452 |
3St Louis | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $30,452 |
4Kansas | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $30,452 |
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K 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.
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. And with some exceptions, it's fine. Not great, not bad. On the category level, Housing (index 71) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 94) 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
Why Independence ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. At 77 on the cost index, residents save roughly 34% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,313/month while the median household pulls in $59,480/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 77, though Healthcare (95) lags behind. Home prices average $203,383 — $263,987 below the national median.
281,754 residents · Missouri
At $1,326/month for rent and a cost index of 77, St Louis is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. Income is $55,279. You get the picture. Fairly typical for a city this size. Worth a deeper look.
152,933 residents · Missouri
Look, Kansas is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,418/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 83. Income sits at $67,449. It's fine. Not great, not bad.
We model what a $40K salary looks like after taxes in each city: federal income tax (marginal brackets), FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. Then we compare take-home against local rent and costs to determine where the salary stretches furthest. 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 71 and median income of $45,984.
Yes. On a $40K salary in Springfield, rent would consume about 36% 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 71 and rent of $1,209/mo, while Kansas (ranked #4) has a cost index of 83 and rent of $1,418/mo — a 12-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 $40K in Springfield is approximately $30,452/year ($2,538/month). After median rent of $1,209/month, you'd have roughly $15,944/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.