The Cost of Living Diaries: Springfield, IL
How much does it cost to live in this Illinois city? We asked a local to give us all of the details!
How much does it cost to live in Springfield, Illinois? Is the cost of living affordable? What is it really like to live in Springfield? We wanted to know, so we asked a local to give us the details on everything from housing costs to childcare to public transit. Oh, and fancy lattes, of course.
Name: Stephanie Moulton
Age: 45
City: Springfield, Illinois
How long have you lived in Springfield?
22 years
What’s your rent/mortgage in Springfield?
$600 a month
Who are the leading employers in Springfield? Are jobs relatively easy to find?
The State of Illinois is the main employer, as Springfield is the state capitol, and all the government branches are here. Other big Springfield employers are Memorial Health Systems, Hospital Sisters Health Systems, the City of Springfield, Springfield Public Schools, Horace Mann and Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.
What’s childcare like in Springfield?
It’s easy to find childcare, either in a daycare center or a private home. When we needed childcare, it was about $800/month. That was several years ago, though, and I haven’t inquired about prices for a while.
You’re not retirement age, but do you have any insights into how elder or handicapped-friendly Springfield is?
Springfield has at least four independent living/retirement home communities (Montvale Estates, Hickory Glen, Bickford of Springfield, and Brendan Gardens) and multiple assisted living facilities. All buildings are handicapped-friendly, and our buses can accommodate wheelchairs.
How walkable is Springfield? Is there a good public transit system?
Springfield is very walkable. We have city buses, but they don’t go to all parts of the city, and the hours for most routes are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. There are four nightly routes from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday. We have an Amtrak station on the line that runs from Chicago to Los Angeles (Texas Eagle Route), so it’s very easy to get to Chicago or St. Louis from Springfield.
To give us an idea of the overall cost of living — how much does a fancy cup of coffee cost? A nice cocktail?
We have Starbucks and several independent coffee shops, and their prices all run about $5-6 for a large, fancy cup of coffee. A nice cocktail will run you $6-$12.
What does a “fancy” date night look like in Springfield?
A fancy date could be dinner at a nice restaurant and a musical or play. We have a very lively community theater community, and you can usually find a musical or play any time of year. We have several nice restaurants of the farm-to-table or small-plate variety.
What are your absolute favorite things about Springfield?
I like that Springfield is a small city but has more of a small-town feel. We’re also in a great location: Champaign-Urbana and St. Louis are only 90 minutes away, and Chicago is a three-hour drive/four-hour Amtrak ride.
We have several beautiful parks, and because we have the University of Illinois here in town, I was able to get my degrees locally.
This article was sponsored by the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance.