City comparison
Portland, OR vs Springfield, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Portland, OR are 19.0% higher than in Springfield, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MO would need about $119,000 in Portland, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,677 a month in Portland, OR versus $883 in Springfield, MO. On $100,000, that's 28% of take-home pay in Portland, OR and 14% in Springfield, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,158 a year higher in Portland, OR than in Springfield, MO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −7.2% moving from Portland, OR to Springfield, MO ($114,684 → $106,437), while prices change by −16.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +10.4% in real buying power.
- Portland, OR: price level 105.4 (pricier)
- Springfield, MO: price level 88.6 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Portland, OR | Springfield, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.4 | 88.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $84,030 in Springfield | $119,005 in Portland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,677/mo | $883/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 28% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $60,690 | $45,780 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA MSA and Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA and Springfield, MO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Portland | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.1 | 65.6 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 94.2 |
| Utilities | 107.0 | 85.8 |
| Other services | 100.1 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 105.4 | 88.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Portland, OR → Springfield, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +19.0%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$4,158/yr.
100 Strong offer
Springfield, MO → Portland, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −16.0%; rent takes 28% of take-home; state tax +$4,158/yr.
33 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Portland, OR is in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA pay area; Springfield, MO is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Portland, OR to Springfield, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Portland, OR | Springfield, MO | Real change, Portland → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $66,505 | $61,722 | +10.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $80,465 | $74,678 | +10.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $96,443 | $89,508 | +10.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $114,684 | $106,437 | +10.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $135,522 | $125,776 | +10.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Portland, OR | Springfield, MO | Springfield pay in Portland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $82,330 | $49,380 | $58,765 (−28.6%) |
| Software Developers | $156,000 | $102,350 | $121,802 (−21.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,200 | $73,020 | $86,898 (−5.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $130,310 | $79,370 | $94,455 (−27.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.