Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Durham and Springfield, MO

For one person, living is cheaper in Durham: $2,052 a month against $2,208 in Springfield, MO, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Durham
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,052
/mo nomad
Springfield, MO
🇺🇸 United States
$2,208
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Durham and in Springfield, MO

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Durham and in Springfield, MO actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,052 in Durham versus $2,208 in Springfield, MO.

  • Durham $2,052
  • Springfield, MO $2,208

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,328 in Durham versus $3,251 in Springfield, MO.

  • Durham $3,328
  • Springfield, MO $3,251

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,604 in Durham versus $4,294 in Springfield, MO.

  • Durham $4,604
  • Springfield, MO $4,294

Living in Durham costs roughly 7% less than in Springfield, MO, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Durham 52% above, Springfield, MO 64% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Durham
Springfield, MO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.54 £14.66
$27.40 $27.40
-28.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.8 £70.4
$59.5 $59.5
57.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.27 £8.46
$11.17 $11.17
0.90%
Cappuccino
$4.58 £3.44
$4.91 $4.91
-6.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 £1.83
$2.30 $2.30
5.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 £1.55
$2.20 $2.20
-5.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.06 £4.54
$4.55 $4.55
33.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.21 £3.91
$6.59 $6.59
-20.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Durham
Springfield, MO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 £1.46
$1.14 $1.14
70.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.55 £1.16
$3.32 $3.32
-53.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.94 £2.20
$2.19 $2.19
34.25%
Eggs
$4.43 £3.32
$3.76 $3.76
17.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.02 £7.52
$11.09 $11.09
-9.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.84 £6.63
$8.59 $8.59
2.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.52 £16.15
$15.31 $15.31
40.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 £2.12
$4.50 $4.50
-37.11%
Banana (1kg)
$2.48 £1.86
$1.08 $1.08
129.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.73 £2.05
$2.97 $2.97
-8.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.21 £3.91
$4.31 $4.31
20.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 £1.17
$1.65 $1.65
-6.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.65 £1.24
$2.36 $2.36
-30.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 £0.83
$1.75 $1.75
-36.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 £1.43
$1.98 $1.98
-3.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.03 £17.28
$8.97 $8.97
156.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.59 £7.95
$13.24 $13.24
-20.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.31 £2.48
$1.78 $1.78
85.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 £2.38
$4.34 $4.34
-26.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Durham
Springfield, MO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.08 £2.31
$1.28 $1.28
140.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.6 £65.7
$45.66 $45.66
91.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.30 £4.72
$3.01 $3.01
109.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 £1.44
$1.46 $1.46
31.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.06 £18.05
$36.10 $36.10
-33.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.88 £1.41
$0.96 $0.96
95.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.3K £28.7K
$34.8K $34.8K
9.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.9K £30.7K
$26.5K $26.5K
54.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Durham
Springfield, MO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$259 £195
$275 $275
-5.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.03 £11.27
$59.7 $59.7
-74.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.60 £32.71
$72.3 $72.3
-39.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Durham
Springfield, MO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.79 £35.10
$57.8 $57.8
-18.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.98 $34.98
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.40 £9.30
$12.02 $12.02
3.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Durham
Springfield, MO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,314 £986
$760 $760
72.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.8K £18.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Durham
Springfield, MO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106 £79.3
$72.3 $72.3
46.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.9 £52.5
$36.70 $36.70
90.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 £84.4
$77.3 $77.3
45.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.2 £72.9
$123 $123
-21.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Durham
Springfield, MO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,565 £1,174
$991 $991
57.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$720 £541
$816 $816
-11.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,730 £2,048
$1,717 $1,717
58.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,614 £1,211
$1,366 $1,366
18.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,063 £3,798
$1,772 $1,772
185.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,845 £2,885
$1,811 $1,811
112.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Durham
Springfield, MO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,090 £1,568
$2,927 $2,927
-28.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.18
6.36
-18.55%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Durham: October 10, 2026

Last update for Springfield, MO: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Durham
$720
Springfield, MO
$816 13.3% $96
Groceries & Markets
Durham
$349
Springfield, MO
$338 3.2% $11
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Durham
$318
Springfield, MO
$407 28% $89
Eating Out
Durham
$304
Springfield, MO
$366 20.3% $62
Clothing & Footwear
Durham
$173
Springfield, MO
$139 19.6% $34
Getting Around
Durham
$116
Springfield, MO
$61 47.2% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Durham
$72
Springfield, MO
$82 14.2% $10

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,565 in Durham and $991 in Springfield, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Springfield, MO pays 40% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $94.0 in Durham vs $59.0 in Springfield, MO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $349 vs $338 per month, with Springfield, MO cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇧 Durham
🇺🇸 Springfield, MO
🕒 Local time
07:25 7:25 AM
01:25 1:25 AM
6 h behind Durham
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
42,100
116,482
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to GBP – British Pound Converter

British Pound exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Durham Springfield, MO 6,820 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Durham
  • Springfield, MO

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Durham vs Springfield, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Durham and in Springfield, MO?
Durham and Springfield, MO differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,052 vs $2,208 including rent). Durham is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 40% lower in Springfield, MO. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Durham and in Springfield, MO?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,565 in Durham versus $991 in Springfield, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Durham or Springfield, MO?
All in, you'll spend $2,052 per month in Durham versus $2,208 in Springfield, MO – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Durham and in Springfield, MO?
A monthly transit pass in Durham runs roughly 92% less than in Springfield, MO. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,052 in Durham versus $2,208 in Springfield, MO, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Durham but tight or insufficient in Springfield, MO. The gap between the two cities makes Durham the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Durham and Springfield, MO?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Durham or Springfield, MO safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Durham and Springfield, MO are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Durham or Springfield, MO?
Expats usually find Durham gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Springfield, MO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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