Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Springfield, MO and Seattle, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Springfield, MO: $2,216 a month against $3,782 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $18,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Springfield, MO
🇺🇸 United States
$2,216
/mo nomad
Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,782
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Springfield, MO and in Seattle, WA

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,216 in Springfield, MO versus $3,782 in Seattle, WA.

  • Springfield, MO $2,216
  • Seattle, WA $3,782

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,256 in Springfield, MO versus $5,636 in Seattle, WA.

  • Springfield, MO $3,256
  • Seattle, WA $5,636

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,296 in Springfield, MO versus $7,489 in Seattle, WA.

  • Springfield, MO $4,296
  • Seattle, WA $7,489

Living in Springfield, MO costs roughly 41% less than in Seattle, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Springfield, MO 64% above, Seattle, WA 179% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Springfield, MO
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.93 $27.93
$24.52 $24.52
13.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.6 $59.6
$98.2 $98.2
-39.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.17 $11.17
$14.79 $14.79
-24.48%
Cappuccino
$4.89 $4.89
$6.52 $6.52
-25.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$3.23 $3.23
-32.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$3.17 $3.17
-30.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.62 $4.62
$7.85 $7.85
-41.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.38 $6.38
$8.03 $8.03
-20.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Springfield, MO
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.21 $1.21
-5.79%
White Bread (500g)
$3.30 $3.30
$5.14 $5.14
-35.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.10 $2.10
$6.05 $6.05
-65.29%
Eggs
$3.79 $3.79
$4.88 $4.88
-22.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.36 $11.36
$19.18 $19.18
-40.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.75 $8.75
$18.91 $18.91
-53.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.29 $15.29
$23.31 $23.31
-34.41%
Apples (1kg)
$4.50 $4.50
$5.99 $5.99
-24.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.93 $1.93
-43.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.09 $3.09
$5.25 $5.25
-41.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$6.57 $6.57
-34.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$3.62 $3.62
-54.42%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$3.31 $3.31
-29.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.81 $1.81
$2.78 $2.78
-34.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.51 $2.51
-21.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.13 $8.13
$12.18 $12.18
-33.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.74 $13.74
$14.83 $14.83
-7.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 $1.80
$4.22 $4.22
-57.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49 $4.49
$5.77 $5.77
-22.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Springfield, MO
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.28 $1.28
$2.95 $2.95
-56.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.72 $44.72
$106 $106
-57.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.65 $2.65
11.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.72 $1.72
-15.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$36.69 $36.69
$29.72 $29.72
23.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.49 $1.49
-36.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K $28.4K
$35.9K $35.9K
-20.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Springfield, MO
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$272 $272
$302 $302
-9.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.9 $58.9
$70.1 $70.1
-15.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.7 $72.7
$85.3 $85.3
-14.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Springfield, MO
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.5 $57.5
$77.8 $77.8
-26.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.36 $34.36
$34.58 $34.58
-0.64%
Cinema Ticket
$12.77 $12.77
$17.84 $17.84
-28.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Springfield, MO
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$759 $759
$2,973 $2,973
-74.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$31.3K $31.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Springfield, MO
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.1 $72.1
$76.6 $76.6
-5.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38 $36.38
$54.1 $54.1
-32.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.8 $79.8
$128 $128
-37.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 $127
$164 $164
-22.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Springfield, MO
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$996 $996
$2,445 $2,445
-59.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$817 $817
$1,947 $1,947
-58.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,706 $1,706
$4,744 $4,744
-64.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,351 $1,351
$3,469 $3,469
-61.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,830 $1,830
$7,367 $7,367
-75.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,806 $1,806
$5,127 $5,127
-64.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Springfield, MO
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,009 $3,009
$6,506 $6,506
-53.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
6.89
-7.69%

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

Last update for Springfield, MO: October 20, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Springfield, MO
$817
Seattle, WA
$1.9K 138% $1.1K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Springfield, MO
$404
Seattle, WA
$457 13.2% $53
Eating Out
Springfield, MO
$369
Seattle, WA
$400 8.3% $31
Groceries & Markets
Springfield, MO
$340
Seattle, WA
$546 60.3% $205
Clothing & Footwear
Springfield, MO
$142
Seattle, WA
$190 34.2% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Springfield, MO
$83
Seattle, WA
$114 36.6% $30
Getting Around
Springfield, MO
$60
Seattle, WA
$129 115% $69

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $996 in Springfield, MO and $2,445 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 116% 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: $60.0 in Springfield, MO vs $98.0 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $340 vs $546 per month, with Springfield, MO cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Springfield, MO
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🕒 Local time
05:48 5:48 AM
03:48 3:48 AM
2 h behind Springfield, MO
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
116,482
737,015
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

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
  • Springfield, MO Seattle, WA 2,630 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Springfield, MO
  • Seattle, WA

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
Springfield, MO vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seattle, WA cheaper than Springfield, MO?
Springfield, MO is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and clothing. The 71% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Springfield, MO or Seattle, WA?
On paper, salaries run 116% lower in Seattle, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Springfield, MO and Seattle, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $996 in Springfield, MO versus $2,445 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Springfield, MO or in Seattle, WA?
Dining out is cheaper in Springfield, MO – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $98.0 in Seattle, WA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Springfield, MO and in Seattle, WA?
All in, you'll spend $2,216 per month in Springfield, MO versus $3,782 in Seattle, WA – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Springfield, MO or in Seattle, WA?
At $2,216 in Springfield, MO versus $3,782 in Seattle, WA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Springfield, MO but tight or insufficient in Seattle, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Springfield, MO the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Springfield, MO or Seattle, WA more family-friendly?
For families, Springfield, MO is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seattle, WA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Springfield, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Springfield, MO vs other spots: cost of living compared

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