Performance
Score Breakdown
General Santos
Springfield
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
General Santos is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
63% lower compared to Springfield.
Housing costs are a major driver: General Santos's average rent is
81% lower than Springfield's.
| Metric | General Santos | Springfield | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $177 | $950 | -81% |
| Groceries | $300 | $400 | -25% |
| Utilities | $100 | $180 | -44% |
| Transport | $80 | $120 | -33% |
| Healthcare | $50 | $250 | -80% |
| Monthly Total | $707 | $1,900 | -63% |
| Cost Index | 35 | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Springfield offers 86% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Springfield delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in General Santos is estimated at
$14,400 vs $33,240 in Springfield.
| Metric | General Santos | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $7,000 | $49,276 |
| Salary Needed | $14,400 | $33,240 |
| Purchasing Power | 20,000 idx | 57,972 idx |
| Household Income | $12,000 | $47,143 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | General Santos | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 75.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Springfield has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
7,000 minutes (117 hours) per year compared to General Santos.
General Santos scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, General Santos leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | General Santos | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 35 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 45.0/10 | 13.0/10 |
| Walkability | 55.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 55.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
General Santos is the larger city
— approximately 12.4x the population of Springfield.
From a growth perspective, General Santos is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Springfield has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | General Santos | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 722,059 | 58,190 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.84% | % |
| Median Age | 24.0 | 37.9 |
| Unemployment | 4.50% | 4.00% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
General Santos
Advantages
Renowned as the "Tuna Capital of the Philippines," boasting a significant global presence in the fishing industry.
A major agricultural hub, producing a variety of export-quality goods and livestock.
Offers a relatively low cost of living, making it an affordable place to reside compared to other Philippine cities.
Serves as a key economic and industrial center, acting as a gateway to southern Mindanao.
Recognized for its well-planned urban layout, contributing to smoother traffic flow and efficient development.
Drawbacks
Susceptible to natural disasters, as evidenced by the mention of the 2026 Mindanao earthquake.
Faces traffic congestion in key areas, particularly during peak hours and market days.
Beaches in close proximity to the city are noted as not being ideal due to potential pollution.
While improving, high-skilled job opportunities may be less diverse compared to larger metropolitan centers.
Internet speeds, though improving with fiber optic availability, were historically noted as slow in some areas.
Springfield
Advantages
Cost of living is approximately 15% below the national average, with housing costs running about 46% below the national norm. [25]
Median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is approximately $920 per month, significantly lower than the national average of $1,430. [25]
The median home value in Springfield is $102,100, which is 64% below the national average. [41]
Springfield has a lower rent-to-income ratio compared to other small metros in Ohio, indicating better rental affordability. [14]
The city is actively working on downtown revitalization, with new residential housing and entertainment venues. [30]
Drawbacks
Springfield has a high crime rate, significantly above both state and national averages, with a concerning trend in violent and property crimes. [9, 26]
The violent crime rate in Springfield is 1371.1 per 100,000 residents, which is substantially higher than the national average. [9]
Springfield has one of the highest crime rates in America, with a chance of becoming a victim of crime being one in 17. [26]
The city's walkability score is very low, indicating a high dependency on cars for transportation. [22, 38]
The median household income of $47,143 is below the national average, and the poverty rate is 23.1%, higher than the national average. [3, 39]
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
General Santos
#4Mindanao, Philippines
68.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$177
Avg Salary
$7,000
Cost Index
35
Commute
35 min
Transit Score
45.0/10
Walkability
55.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.84%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
70
Business
65
Springfield
#117Ohio, USA
65.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$49,276
Cost Index
85
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
13.0/10
Walkability
6.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.00%
Livability
70
Business
60
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