Moving from Detroit to Springfield

You'd keep $431 more a month in Springfield

+$5,172 a year for the same registered nurse, the same household size, and the same number of bedrooms.

Detroit leftover

$2,473

a month after tax and rent

Springfield leftover

$2,904

+$431 vs Detroit

Monthly and annual budget comparison between Detroit, MI and Springfield, IL
Per monthDetroitSpringfieldDifference
Gross pay$7,625$7,641+$16
Income and payroll tax$2,049$1,933−$116
Take-home pay$5,576$5,707+$131
Rent$1,194$895−$299
Getting around$560$539−$21
Groceries$372$378+$6
Healthcare$419$425+$6
Utilities$233$236+$3
Everything else$326$330+$4
Left over$2,473$2,904+$431

To break even in Springfield, you'd need to earn

$84,000

Household gross, versus $91,500 today. That's the salary that leaves you exactly as much at the end of the month as Detroit does now.

The tax difference alone

+$1,446

A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 26.9% in Detroit, 25.3% in Springfield.

More about Springfield

Detroit, MI in full

Engineering wages against some of the cheapest urban housing in America.

Springfield, IL in full

A flat 4.95% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,065 and 204 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.

The reverse move

Same two cities, but starting from Springfield on Springfield wages.

SpringfieldDetroit

Questions

Is the cost of living lower in Springfield than Detroit?

A one-bedroom is about $1,194 in Detroit versus $895 in Springfield. On a one-adult, one-bedroom household, leftover is about $431 a month higher in Springfield. Change the job or household on the comparison to see your number.

Does Springfield have state income tax?

Springfield is in Illinois, which taxes wage income.

What changes if you move from Detroit to Springfield?

Take-home pay is recalculated under Illinois tax, rent is priced at the same bedroom count, and leftover is the gap. The from-to page also lists IRS households that already made the move, when that data exists.

Rent is Zillow's asking rent for each metro; taxes and living costs are modelled. An estimate, not a quote or tax advice. How this is calculated.