Cost of Living in Springfield, MA
Springfield, MA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Springfield, MA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Springfield, MA?
With a price level of 96.1 (U.S. average = 100), Springfield, MA is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 24% below average; everyday goods are 3% below average; utilities run 55% above average; other services such as healthcare and dining cost about the same as the national average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Springfield, MA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.1 | −3.9% |
| Housing | 75.8 | −24.2% |
| Goods | 97.0 | −3.0% |
| Utilities | 155.0 | +55.0% |
| Other services | 101.2 | +1.2% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Springfield, MA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,219 | $48,760/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,382 | $55,280/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,734 | $69,360/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,127 | $85,080/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,296 | $91,840/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Springfield, MA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Springfield, MA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $38,400 | $31,334 |
| $60,000 | $57,600 | $45,802 |
| $80,000 | $76,800 | $59,239 |
| $100,000 | $96,100 | $71,851 |
| $150,000 | $144,100 | $102,773 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Springfield, MA's median wage of $51,930 takes home about $3,461 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,382, which is 40% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,079 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Springfield, MA
- Federal income tax$4,052
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,220
- Medicare (1.45%)$753
- Massachusetts income tax$2,377
- Take-home pay$41,529
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Springfield, MA
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $106,390 | $78,576 | $81,798 |
| Registered Nurse | $98,410 | $73,361 | $76,369 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $61,420 | $48,680 | $50,676 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,860 | $37,709 | $39,255 |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,790 | $37,656 | $39,200 |
| Nursing Assistant | $44,740 | $36,112 | $37,592 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $40,860 | $33,188 | $34,549 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $39,170 | $31,915 | $33,223 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $37,160 | $30,400 | $31,647 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $36,170 | $29,654 | $30,870 |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,440 | $29,104 | $30,297 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $34,130 | $28,117 | $29,270 |
| Cashier | $34,030 | $28,042 | $29,191 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $31,200 | $25,909 | $26,972 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Massachusetts cities
Half of Massachusetts’s 3,637,650 workers earn less than $63,590 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $44,730–$102,580 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Boston, MA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Providence, RI is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | $66,620 | 108.3 | $2,276 | 52% | $2,106 | $48,571 |
| Providence, RI | $53,680 | 101.8 | $1,423 | 40% | $2,148 | $42,101 |
| Worcester, MA | $57,830 | 102.5 | $1,558 | 41% | $2,273 | $44,844 |
| Springfield, MA | $51,930 | 96.1 | $1,382 | 40% | $2,079 | $43,232 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $56,360 | 98.4 | $1,846 | 49% | $1,893 | $45,620 |
| Amherst Town, MA | $57,030 | 100.2 | $1,580 | 42% | $2,201 | $45,262 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $51,860 | 95.1 | $1,281 | 37% | $2,175 | $43,611 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Springfield, MA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MA | 96.1 | $1,382 | $51,930 | 201,240 |
| Santa Maria, CA | 108.8 | $2,746 | $51,690 | 200,760 |
| Manchester, NH | 105.7 | $1,596 | $56,530 | 199,560 |
| Savannah, GA | 95.2 | $1,533 | $47,240 | 198,360 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 107.8 | $2,155 | $56,850 | 205,260 |
| Modesto, CA | 104.1 | $1,356 | $50,610 | 195,230 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 92.7 | $1,115 | $45,350 | 192,580 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Springfield, MA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Springfield, MA metro area are 96.1% of the U.S. average, with housing at 75.8%. It is the #144 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Springfield, MA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $57,637 in Springfield, MA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $51,930.
Can you afford Springfield, MA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $51,930 median wage takes home about $3,461 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,382 would take 40% of that.
How much is rent in Springfield, MA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Springfield, MA are $1,219 for a studio, $1,382 for one bedroom, $1,734 for two bedrooms and $2,127 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Springfield, MA
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $106,390
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $98,410
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $44,740
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $40,860
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,170
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,130
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $35,440
- Cashier — $34,030
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Office Clerks, General — $46,860
- Customer Service Representative — $46,790
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $61,420
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,160