Springfield, MO vs Ames, IA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Ames, IA and Springfield, MO are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Springfield works out to about $75,200 in Ames, before taxes.
- Housing is 5.5% higher in Ames, goods 0.5% lower and other services 0.1% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,162 a month in Ames and $1,251 in Springfield, $1,068 a year less in Ames (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $277,000 in Ames and $271,000 in Springfield.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Ames was 6.4% more expensive than Springfield.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Springfield and Ames
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Springfield, MO
- Ames, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Springfield, MO | Ames, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.6 | 88.8 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 93.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 65.6 | 69.2 |
| Utilities | 85.8 | 83.0 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 92.9 |
| Category | Springfield | Ames | Ames vs Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.6 | 88.8 | +0.3% |
| Goods | 94.2 | 93.7 | −0.5% |
| Housing (rents) | 65.6 | 69.2 | +5.5% |
| Utilities | 85.8 | 83.0 | −3.3% |
| Other services | 93.0 | 92.9 | −0.1% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,251 | $1,162 | −7.1% |
| Typical home value | $271,000 | $277,000 | +2.5% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Springfield | $75,000 | $75,200 | +0.3% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Springfield and Ames has narrowed since 2008: 9.3 points then, 0.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Springfield, MO
- Ames, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Springfield, MO | Ames, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 91.7 | 82.4 |
| 2009 | 92.2 | 90.0 |
| 2010 | 92.0 | 92.9 |
| 2011 | 90.4 | 91.7 |
| 2012 | 90.8 | 92.3 |
| 2013 | 91.4 | 94.4 |
| 2014 | 89.9 | 92.9 |
| 2015 | 90.3 | 90.0 |
| 2016 | 89.5 | 88.7 |
| 2017 | 88.3 | 89.7 |
| 2018 | 89.8 | 93.9 |
| 2019 | 90.1 | 95.9 |
| 2020 | 88.5 | 93.1 |
| 2021 | 89.1 | 91.5 |
| 2022 | 86.7 | 88.4 |
| 2023 | 89.1 | 91.5 |
| 2024 | 88.6 | 88.8 |
Goods
- Springfield, MO
- Ames, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Springfield, MO | Ames, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.5 | 77.0 |
| 2009 | 96.7 | 85.3 |
| 2010 | 96.5 | 94.3 |
| 2011 | 96.2 | 94.7 |
| 2012 | 97.1 | 95.4 |
| 2013 | 96.9 | 94.6 |
| 2014 | 98.1 | 95.1 |
| 2015 | 97.7 | 95.5 |
| 2016 | 97.0 | 94.1 |
| 2017 | 95.4 | 93.6 |
| 2018 | 95.1 | 95.8 |
| 2019 | 97.1 | 97.2 |
| 2020 | 95.8 | 95.5 |
| 2021 | 94.1 | 94.1 |
| 2022 | 93.7 | 93.3 |
| 2023 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2024 | 94.2 | 93.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Springfield, MO
- Ames, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Springfield, MO | Ames, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 65.4 | 67.2 |
| 2009 | 69.3 | 90.6 |
| 2010 | 71.0 | 87.0 |
| 2011 | 66.7 | 90.3 |
| 2012 | 66.1 | 86.4 |
| 2013 | 67.1 | 104.0 |
| 2014 | 63.0 | 92.9 |
| 2015 | 67.9 | 81.8 |
| 2016 | 63.0 | 80.2 |
| 2017 | 61.1 | 89.1 |
| 2018 | 63.8 | 83.7 |
| 2019 | 62.8 | 92.3 |
| 2020 | 59.1 | 80.8 |
| 2021 | 63.0 | 72.4 |
| 2022 | 59.6 | 65.8 |
| 2023 | 68.1 | 79.8 |
| 2024 | 65.6 | 69.2 |
Utilities
- Springfield, MO
- Ames, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Springfield, MO | Ames, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 82.5 | 79.7 |
| 2009 | 87.0 | 80.2 |
| 2010 | 86.1 | 86.8 |
| 2011 | 89.1 | 78.2 |
| 2012 | 89.9 | 79.7 |
| 2013 | 90.4 | 81.0 |
| 2014 | 84.3 | 81.3 |
| 2015 | 86.9 | 81.2 |
| 2016 | 84.6 | 83.5 |
| 2017 | 89.8 | 85.5 |
| 2018 | 92.7 | 96.3 |
| 2019 | 91.4 | 97.3 |
| 2020 | 93.2 | 97.0 |
| 2021 | 90.4 | 98.7 |
| 2022 | 88.7 | 98.1 |
| 2023 | 86.8 | 86.2 |
| 2024 | 85.8 | 83.0 |
Other services
- Springfield, MO
- Ames, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Springfield, MO | Ames, IA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.1 | 93.6 |
| 2009 | 98.8 | 94.7 |
| 2010 | 98.2 | 94.2 |
| 2011 | 95.7 | 90.7 |
| 2012 | 96.5 | 93.0 |
| 2013 | 97.1 | 92.2 |
| 2014 | 96.1 | 92.2 |
| 2015 | 94.4 | 89.2 |
| 2016 | 95.6 | 88.2 |
| 2017 | 94.4 | 87.5 |
| 2018 | 96.3 | 96.2 |
| 2019 | 96.2 | 96.3 |
| 2020 | 96.4 | 96.2 |
| 2021 | 95.2 | 95.3 |
| 2022 | 91.8 | 92.0 |
| 2023 | 92.3 | 92.3 |
| 2024 | 93.0 | 92.9 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,162 in Ames vs $1,251 in Springfield
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Springfield, MO
- Ames, IA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Springfield, MO | Ames, IA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $667 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $671 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $680 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $669 | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $683 | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $692 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $698 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $696 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $711 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $713 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $726 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $705 | $921 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $725 | $891 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $745 | $895 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $754 | $860 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $745 | $879 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $770 | $906 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $790 | $905 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $797 | $883 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $797 | $911 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $814 | $923 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $834 | $902 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $851 | $909 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $853 | $957 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $900 | $944 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $952 | $939 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $975 | $951 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $993 | $977 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,016 | $985 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,064 | $990 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,071 | $981 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,066 | $1,025 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,076 | $1,032 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,098 | $1,014 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,112 | $1,027 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,100 | $1,071 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,124 | $1,074 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,137 | $1,071 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,147 | $1,094 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,142 | $1,109 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,171 | $1,114 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,194 | $1,116 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,186 | $1,131 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,197 | $1,149 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,210 | $1,141 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,224 | $1,145 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,251 | $1,162 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $277,000 in Ames vs $271,000 in Springfield
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Springfield, MO
- Ames, IA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Springfield, MO | Ames, IA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $126K | $169K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $127K | $174K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $130K | $176K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $131K | $178K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $133K | $179K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $134K | $180K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $135K | $182K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $138K | $184K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $140K | $185K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $142K | $189K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $143K | $191K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $145K | $192K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $149K | $194K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $152K | $195K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $153K | $196K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $155K | $197K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $158K | $197K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $161K | $199K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $163K | $199K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $166K | $201K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $169K | $202K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $171K | $206K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $175K | $208K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $184K | $212K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $191K | $215K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $202K | $222K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $209K | $227K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $217K | $232K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $231K | $239K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $243K | $247K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $247K | $249K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $246K | $252K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $246K | $252K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $249K | $257K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $253K | $259K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $254K | $257K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $255K | $255K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $257K | $259K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $260K | $260K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $261K | $263K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $263K | $266K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $261K | $267K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $262K | $270K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $265K | $272K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $268K | $275K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $268K | $276K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $271K | $277K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.