Columbus, OH Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Columbus, OH Summary

Cost of living in Columbus research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Columbus is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Ohio, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Columbus is 89, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Columbus is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Columbus ranks as the #125 cheapest in Ohio out of 286.

  • Columbus ranks as the #1,460 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Columbus is $174,400.

  • The median income in Columbus is $58,575.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
89
Columbus's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Columbus, OH?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Columbus has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Ohio, Columbus has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Ohio's index of 91.

The standard of living in Columbus ranks as #125 most affordable out of the 286 places we measured in Ohio. By definition, that implies Columbus ranks as the #161 most expensive place in the Buckeye State.

For more reading on life in Columbus, check out:

125 out of 286
In Ohio
1,460 out of 6,412
In America

Columbus Cost Of Living Vs. Ohio

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Columbus. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Columbus is 93.

  • The Groceries index in Columbus is 96.

  • The Health index in Columbus is 94.

  • The Housing index in Columbus is 75.

  • The Transportation index in Columbus is 102.

  • The Utilities index in Columbus is 85.

Living Expense Columbus Ohio National Average
Overall 89 91 100
Services 93 98 100
Groceries 96 101 100
Health 94 95 100
Housing 75 73 100
Transportation 102 98 100
Utilities 85 93 100
For more reading on cost of living around Ohio, check out:
Columbus Cost of Living Vs. OH

Columbus, OH Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Ohio, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Columbus is $174,400.

  • The Median Rent in Columbus is $1,061.

  • The Median Income in Columbus is $58,575.

  • The Home Value To Income in Columbus is 3.0x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Columbus is 0.22x.

Statistic Columbus Ohio United States
Median Home Value $174,400 $159,900 $244,900
Median Rent $1,061 $870 $1,163
Median Income $58,575 $61,938 $69,021
Home Value To Income 3.0x 2.6x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.22x 0.17x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Columbus, OH
$174,400
Median Home Value
$1,061
Median Rent
$58,575
Median Income

Columbus, OH Costs By Category

Detailed Columbus Services Costs Vs. Ohio

Item Columbus Ohio
Shampoo $0.99 $1.06
Movie $11.0 $10.68
Bowling $17.67 $14.67
Haircut $14.45 $18.62
Beauty Salon $39.83 $39.05

Detailed Columbus Groceries Costs Vs. Ohio

Item Columbus Ohio
Ground Beef $4.32 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.16 $1.39
Milk $1.58 $2.05
Potatoes $2.57 $3.29
Pizza $10.24 $10.62
Beer $9.2 $9.38
Toothpaste $1.68 $2.34

Detailed Columbus Health Costs Vs. Ohio

Item Columbus Ohio
Optometrist $59.28 $108.57
Doctor $130.99 $116.17
Dentist $84.54 $99.13

Detailed Columbus Transportation Costs Vs. Ohio

Item Columbus Ohio
Gasoline $2.38 $2.22
Tire Balancing $42.38 $50.07

Detailed Columbus Utilities Costs Vs. Ohio

Item Columbus Ohio
All Electricity $127.64 $167.67
Phone $179.85 $175.64

Columbus SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
8
Affordability
6
Diversity
9.5
Safety
4
Amenities
9.5
Education
8
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Columbus

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Columbus. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Dublin, OH has a cost of living index of 120, 1.3x Columbus.

  • Westerville, OH has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Columbus.

  • Upper Arlington, OH has a cost of living index of 117, 1.3x Columbus.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Columbus
Dublin, OH 48,613 120 1.3x
Westerville, OH 38,960 98 1.1x
Upper Arlington, OH 36,566 117 1.3x
Gahanna, OH 35,626 98 1.1x
Hilliard, OH 35,530 98 1.1x
Whitehall, OH 20,004 81 0.9x
Worthington, OH 15,047 104 1.2x
Powell, OH 13,879 120 1.3x
Bexley, OH 13,820 109 1.2x
New Albany, OH 10,962 138 1.6x

Articles About Ohio

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