Columbia, PA Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Columbia, PA Summary

Cost of living in Columbia 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 Columbia is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Pennsylvania, 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 Columbia is 91, with 100 being the average.

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

  • Columbia ranks as the #60 cheapest in Pennsylvania out of 247.

  • Columbia ranks as the #1,804 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Columbia is $122,900.

  • The median income in Columbia is $45,507.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
91
Columbia's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Columbia, PA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Columbia has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Pennsylvania, Columbia has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 97.

The standard of living in Columbia ranks as #60 most affordable out of the 247 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Columbia ranks as the #187 most expensive place in the Keystone State.

For more reading on life in Columbia, check out:

60 out of 247
In Pennsylvania
1,804 out of 6,412
In America

Columbia Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania

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

  • The Services index in Columbia is 104.

  • The Groceries index in Columbia is 100.

  • The Health index in Columbia is 94.

  • The Housing index in Columbia is 60.

  • The Transportation index in Columbia is 110.

  • The Utilities index in Columbia is 110.

Living Expense Columbia Pennsylvania National Average
Overall 91 97 100
Services 104 99 100
Groceries 100 101 100
Health 94 97 100
Housing 60 85 100
Transportation 110 105 100
Utilities 110 106 100
For more reading on cost of living around Pennsylvania, check out:
Columbia Cost of Living Vs. PA

Columbia, PA Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Pennsylvania, 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 Columbia is $122,900.

  • The Median Rent in Columbia is $929.

  • The Median Income in Columbia is $45,507.

  • The Home Value To Income in Columbia is 2.7x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Columbia is 0.24x.

Statistic Columbia Pennsylvania United States
Median Home Value $122,900 $197,300 $244,900
Median Rent $929 $1,013 $1,163
Median Income $45,507 $67,587 $69,021
Home Value To Income 2.7x 2.9x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.24x 0.18x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Columbia, PA
$122,900
Median Home Value
$929
Median Rent
$45,507
Median Income

Columbia, PA Costs By Category

Detailed Columbia Services Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Columbia Pennsylvania
Shampoo $1.18 $1.06
Movie $13.11 $10.68
Bowling $13.65 $14.67
Haircut $18.18 $18.62
Beauty Salon $33.13 $39.05

Detailed Columbia Groceries Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Columbia Pennsylvania
Ground Beef $4.21 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.34 $1.39
Milk $2.44 $2.05
Potatoes $3.49 $3.29
Pizza $10.69 $10.62
Beer $11.96 $9.38
Toothpaste $1.84 $2.34

Detailed Columbia Health Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Columbia Pennsylvania
Optometrist $86.81 $108.57
Doctor $103.0 $116.17
Dentist $93.74 $99.13

Detailed Columbia Transportation Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Columbia Pennsylvania
Gasoline $2.54 $2.22
Tire Balancing $48.77 $50.07

Detailed Columbia Utilities Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Columbia Pennsylvania
All Electricity $191.01 $167.67
Phone $189.01 $175.64

Columbia SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
6
Affordability
6
Diversity
8.5
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9
Education
4
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Columbia

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

  • Longview, WA has a cost of living index of 105, 1.2x Columbia.

  • Orchards, WA has a cost of living index of 114, 1.3x Columbia.

  • Hazel Dell, WA has a cost of living index of 116, 1.3x Columbia.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Columbia
Longview, WA 37,542 105 1.2x
Orchards, WA 28,371 114 1.3x
Hazel Dell, WA 21,650 116 1.3x
Battle Ground, WA 20,536 117 1.3x
Five Corners, WA 20,428 114 1.3x
St. Helens, OR 13,808 108 1.2x
Kelso, WA 12,566 101 1.1x
Minnehaha, WA 11,508 119 1.3x
Ridgefield, WA 10,432 127 1.4x
Mount Vista, WA 9,924 125 1.4x

Articles About Pennsylvania

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