Overall
96.1
-3.9 below avg
2024 BEA RPP All 4 categories Federal source
Springfield, MA
Cost-of-living indicators for Springfield, MA, compiled from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024 data year). Categories include All Items, Goods, Services, and Rents.
CBSA: 44140 · Data year: 2024 · Rank: #144 of 387
Springfield, MA has a cost of living index of 96.1, meaning it's 3.9% less expensive than the national average. Goods cost 3.0% less, services 55.0% more, and rents are 24.2% below average. A $100K national salary has the purchasing power of $104,101 here.
What the Numbers Mean for Springfield
Springfield ranks #144 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the upper half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 96.1, Springfield, MA is 3.9% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Springfield's most and least expensive categories — services at 155.0 versus rents at 75.8 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $104,101 inside Springfield, while a household needs roughly $96,061 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 75.8 — 24.2% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Springfield's overall index has fallen by 3.4 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 97.0 and services at 155.0, meaning everyday spending in Springfield is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Springfield Cost Index at a Glance
Springfield all-items cost index
Regional Price Parity vs national average (100)
Springfield category breakdown
BEA RPP composition by goods, services, rents, overall
Price Index Summary
Goods
97.0
-3.0 below avg
Services
155.0
+55.0 above avg
Rents
75.8
-24.2 below avg
Price Index vs National Average (100)
Overall
National avg
Index 96.1 (-3.9 vs national avg)
Goods
National avg
Index 97.0 (-3.0 vs national avg)
Services
National avg
Index 155.0 (+55.0 vs national avg)
Rents
National avg
Index 75.8 (-24.2 vs national avg)
Vertical line on each bar = national average (100)
Cost Breakdown Analysis
Above National Average
Services +55.0% (155.0)
Below National Average
Rents -24.2% (75.8)
Overall -3.9% (96.1)
Goods -3.0% (97.0)
Income Adequacy in Springfield
Springfield income adequacy score
$75,000 median income vs RPP 96.1
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$96,061
in Springfield, MA purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$48,031
$75,000 nationally
$72,046
$125,000 nationally
$120,076
$150,000 nationally
$144,092
$200,000 nationally
$192,122
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 3.4 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.5 |
| 2009 | 101.8 |
| 2010 | 98.7 |
| 2011 | 97.7 |
| 2012 | 97.8 |
| 2013 | 101.3 |
| 2014 | 98.9 |
| 2015 | 99.7 |
| 2016 | 99.4 |
| 2017 | 99.4 |
| 2018 | 97.4 |
| 2019 | 97.8 |
| 2020 | 99.1 |
| 2021 | 97.7 |
| 2022 | 98.9 |
| 2023 | 98.1 |
| 2024 | 96.1 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Springfield, MA's index of 96.1.
Other MA Metros
Related Data for Springfield
Salary Data
BLS occupation wages for Springfield area
Fair Market Rents
HUD rent data for Springfield metro
Crime Rates
FBI UCR crime data near Springfield
School Districts
NCES school data for Springfield area
ZIP Code Data
Census demographics for Springfield area
Life Score
Quality-of-life composite rating
Relocation Guide
7-dimension relocation intelligence
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Springfield, MA? ▼
Springfield, MA has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 96.1, meaning it is 3.9% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 97.0, services at 155.0, and rents at 75.8. It ranks #144 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Springfield, MA to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $96,061 in Springfield, MA. Conversely, $100K earned in Springfield, MA has the purchasing power of $104,101 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Springfield, MA? ▼
Rents in Springfield, MA are indexed at 75.8, which is 24.2% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Springfield, MA getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Springfield, MA's overall cost index changed by -3.4 points (from 99.5 to 96.1). The cost of living has been declining.
What costs the most in Springfield, MA? ▼
The most expensive category in Springfield, MA is services at 155.0, which is 55.0% above the national average. The most affordable category is rents at 75.8, 24.2% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Springfield, MA? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include York-Hanover, Vineland, Racine-Mount Pleasant. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Springfield, MA's 96.1.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — cost-of-living indices by metro and state. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — inflation context by metro. bls.gov/cpi
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — housing-cost component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage component. bls.gov/oes
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — household income + demographics. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-burden context. irs.gov/statistics
