F
51%
Overall NAT. AVG.
10%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
148%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Springfield Virginia National
Cost of living151109100
Goods & Services110100100
Groceries113101100
Health care10999100
Housing248130100
Transportation11195100
Utilities101104100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Springfield, VA

The cost of living in Springfield affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Springfield is 151, which is 51% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Springfield may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Springfield falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.

Housing costs are a very significant part of the Springfield cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 148.1% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.

Goods and services make up 33% of the total cost of living index score and are a large part of your everyday expenses. These items could include things like haircuts, salons, toothpaste, shampoo, clothes, movies, bowling, gym memberships or yoga. In Springfield, you can expect to pay 10.2% more than average for these items, making it a more expensive place to live.

The cost of groceries continues to rise at an alarming rate. Over the last two years, grocery prices have increased by more than 10%! Unfortunately, in Springfield, the news isn't any better as grocery prices are 12.6% higher than the national average.

Is Springfield Affordable?

Wondering if Springfield is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Springfield, for example, the median home price is 157.7% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 125.8% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Springfield boasting a median household income of $103,438, which is 87% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Springfield?

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Springfield, the groceries index registers 12.6% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Springfield comes in at 0.8% higher than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Springfield, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 5.3%, and income tax rates start at 2%.

Where is the Data From?

The Springfield cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Springfield is 38% higher than the Virginia average
  • The cost of living in Springfield is 51% higher than the national average
  • Springfield housing is 148% higher than the national average
  • Virginia general sales tax is 4% higher than the national average
  • Virginia state income tax is 23% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Springfield

See all the best places to live around Springfield

Compare Springfield, VA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$133,235$11,103$3,109$3,997
      Renters$62,190$5,183$1,451$1,866
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Springfield, VA, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Springfield homeowners, is $133,235. This would allow for a maximum of $3,109 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $62,190 which would result in a maximum of $1,451 to be spent on rental costs.

      Virginia Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Virginia 5.3% 6%

      Virginia Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Virginia 2% 5.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Springfield National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.51$24.265.1%
      Beauty Salon $47.63$45.564.5%
      Toothpaste $3.62$3.702.1%
      Shampoo $1.34$1.284.4%
      Movie $13.08$12.137.8%
      Bowling $24.34$18.0035.2%

      Groceries

      Item Springfield National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.08$5.844.1%
      Fried Chicken $1.41$1.5710.6%
      Milk $4.68$4.670.2%
      Potatoes $5.30$4.937.3%
      Pizza $12.49$12.093.4%
      Beer $10.83$10.414.0%

      Health Care

      Item Springfield National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $120.12$125.684.4%
      Doctor $135.82$135.780.0%
      Dentist $98.77$113.2912.8%
      Ibuprofen $10.80$10.651.4%
      Lipitor $485.49$468.603.6%

      Housing

      Item Springfield National avg. Difference
      Home Price $475,900.00$184,700.00157.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,923.85$2,346.6918.0%
      Apartment Rent $2,143.00$949.00125.8%

      Transportation

      Item Springfield National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.34$3.463.6%
      Tire Balancing $64.70$59.928.0%

      Utilities

      Item Springfield National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $213.29$193.999.9%
      Phone $184.83$192.253.9%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Rose Hill CDP (Lee County), VA708927.8%
      Potomac Heights, MD1,247936.5%
      Woodlawn CDP (Carroll County), VA2,247945.9%
      Wakefield town, VA810954.6%
      Belle Haven town, VA5621022.0%
      Springfield, VA32,96015151.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Copperas Cove, TX32,9608713.0%
      Walla Walla, WA32,9511054.7%
      Fort Erie, ON32,970n/a 
      Baldwin, NY32,93915049.5%
      Fair Lawn, NJ32,98614241.7%
      Springfield, VA32,96015151.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.