Cost of living in Columbus

In Columbus, United States, a family of four typically needs around $3834 per month including rent. A single person may spend about $2041 monthly.

How expensive is Columbus compared to other cities?

Columbus is 43% more expensive overall versus the European benchmark.

How does Columbus compare to your city?

Comparison to your city is not available.

What drives the cost of living in Columbus?

Who is Columbus a good fit for?

Columbus is most realistic when moving with a strong job offer or relocation package. Without high income, the housing-driven price level can be difficult to sustain.

FAQ

Why is Columbus so expensive?

The primary reason for Columbus's high cost of living is the significant increase in rent and utilities. This expense can impact overall affordability for residents.

Is food expensive in Columbus?

Food prices in Columbus are 4% higher than the European benchmark, making it slightly more costly than some other regions.

Is public transport affordable in Columbus?

Public transport in Columbus is 26% lower than the European benchmark, offering a more budget-friendly option for commuting.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
2041 $
Without Rent
679 $
Rent & Utilities
1362 $
Food
494 $
Transport
55 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
3684 $
GDP per Capita
81,695 $
Freedom Index
8.39
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
96%
Population
207.0K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 14.5 $
Dinner 49.7 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 10 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 6.52 $
Capuccino 4.02 $
Coke, 330ml 1 $

Compare Columbus with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 0.84 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 3.81 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.87 $
Eggs, 12 pack 2.07 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 10.4 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 9.61 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 9.24 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.55 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.34 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.74 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.62 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 1.65 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 1.86 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.22 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.49 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 13.9 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 1.71 $
Cigarette pack 7.03 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 1.31 $
Monthly Pass 52.7 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 0.83 $
Taxi, 8 km 11.9 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 106 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 7.79 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 6.14 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 4.56 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 2.16 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 205 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 311 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 64.5 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 1,082 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 1,246 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,136 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 1,397 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 1,333 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 1,342 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 3,684 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.72%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 9.92 $
Cinema, 1 seat 10 $
Haircut 17.4 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 79.7 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 45.3 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 871 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 9,406 $

Compare Columbus with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Columbus vs George Town (George Town is 79% more expensive)
Bahamas
Columbus vs Nassau (Nassau is 35% more expensive) Columbus vs Freeport (Freeport is 8% more expensive)
Vanuatu
Columbus vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 15% more expensive) Columbus vs Luganville (Luganville is 50% more expensive)
United States
Columbus vs New York City (New York City is 98% more expensive) Columbus vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 56% more expensive) Columbus vs Chicago (Chicago is 31% more expensive) Columbus vs Houston (Houston is 10% more expensive) Columbus vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 16% more expensive) Columbus vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 24% more expensive) Columbus vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 7% more expensive) Columbus vs San Diego (San Diego is 64% more expensive) Columbus vs Dallas (Dallas is 25% more expensive) Columbus vs San Jose (San Jose is 80% more expensive)
Canada
Columbus vs Toronto (Toronto is 26% more expensive) Columbus vs Montreal (Montreal is 4% less expensive) Columbus vs Calgary (Calgary is 5% more expensive) Columbus vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 10% more expensive) Columbus vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 13% less expensive) Columbus vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 14% less expensive) Columbus vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 21% more expensive) Columbus vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 30% more expensive) Columbus vs Brampton (Brampton is 4% more expensive) Columbus vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 6% more expensive)
Barbados
Columbus vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 33% less expensive) Columbus vs Holetown (Holetown is 32% less expensive)
Panama
Columbus vs Panama City (Panama City is 32% less expensive) Columbus vs Colon (Colon is 42% less expensive) Columbus vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 40% less expensive) Columbus vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 48% less expensive) Columbus vs David (David is 59% less expensive) Columbus vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 53% less expensive) Columbus vs Balboa (Balboa is 39% less expensive) Columbus vs Pacora (Pacora is 39% less expensive) Columbus vs Chitre (Chitre is 47% less expensive) Columbus vs Penonome (Penonome is 46% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Columbus vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 39% less expensive) Columbus vs Cayon (Cayon is 39% less expensive)
Cuba
Columbus vs Havana (Havana is 50% less expensive) Columbus vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 31% less expensive) Columbus vs Holguin (Holguin is 37% less expensive) Columbus vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 25% less expensive) Columbus vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 48% less expensive) Columbus vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 43% less expensive) Columbus vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 24% less expensive) Columbus vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 24% less expensive) Columbus vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 46% less expensive) Columbus vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 57% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Columbus vs San Jose (San Jose is 39% less expensive) Columbus vs Limon (Limon is 41% less expensive) Columbus vs Liberia (Liberia is 56% less expensive) Columbus vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 40% less expensive) Columbus vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 37% less expensive) Columbus vs Cartago (Cartago is 53% less expensive) Columbus vs Heredia (Heredia is 39% less expensive) Columbus vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 17% less expensive) Columbus vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 36% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Columbus vs Castries (Castries is 43% less expensive) Columbus vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 41% less expensive)
Jamaica
Columbus vs Kingston (Kingston is 35% less expensive) Columbus vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 62% less expensive) Columbus vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 50% less expensive) Columbus vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 43% less expensive) Columbus vs May Pen (May Pen is 60% less expensive) Columbus vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 52% less expensive) Columbus vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 58% less expensive) Columbus vs Linstead (Linstead is 49% less expensive) Columbus vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 45% less expensive) Columbus vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 44% less expensive)
El Salvador
Columbus vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 42% less expensive) Columbus vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 65% less expensive) Columbus vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 43% less expensive) Columbus vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 47% less expensive) Columbus vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 43% less expensive) Columbus vs Apopa (Apopa is 44% less expensive) Columbus vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 41% less expensive) Columbus vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 29% less expensive) Columbus vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 47% less expensive) Columbus vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 57% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Columbus vs St. John's (St. John's is 47% less expensive) Columbus vs All Saints (All Saints is 47% less expensive)
Grenada
Columbus vs St. George's (St. George's is 48% less expensive) Columbus vs Grenville (Grenville is 48% less expensive)
Dominica
Columbus vs Roseau (Roseau is 51% less expensive) Columbus vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 44% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Columbus vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 52% less expensive) Columbus vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 51% less expensive)
Belize
Columbus vs Belize City (Belize City is 57% less expensive) Columbus vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 47% less expensive) Columbus vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 64% less expensive) Columbus vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 35% less expensive) Columbus vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 23% less expensive)
Guatemala
Columbus vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 51% less expensive) Columbus vs Mixco (Mixco is 69% less expensive) Columbus vs Coban (Coban is 55% less expensive) Columbus vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 62% less expensive) Columbus vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 56% less expensive) Columbus vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 56% less expensive) Columbus vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 57% less expensive) Columbus vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 57% less expensive) Columbus vs Flores (Flores is 58% less expensive) Columbus vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 61% less expensive)
Honduras
Columbus vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 59% less expensive) Columbus vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 49% less expensive) Columbus vs Choloma (Choloma is 71% less expensive) Columbus vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 68% less expensive) Columbus vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 57% less expensive) Columbus vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 58% less expensive) Columbus vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 65% less expensive) Columbus vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 65% less expensive) Columbus vs Yoro (Yoro is 64% less expensive) Columbus vs La Lima (La Lima is 57% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Columbus vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 61% less expensive) Columbus vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 49% less expensive) Columbus vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 62% less expensive) Columbus vs Higuey (Higuey is 62% less expensive) Columbus vs La Vega (La Vega is 72% less expensive) Columbus vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 59% less expensive) Columbus vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 64% less expensive) Columbus vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 74% less expensive) Columbus vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 69% less expensive) Columbus vs Bonao (Bonao is 73% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Columbus vs Managua (Managua is 62% less expensive) Columbus vs Leon (Leon is 69% less expensive) Columbus vs Masaya (Masaya is 65% less expensive) Columbus vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 73% less expensive) Columbus vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 69% less expensive) Columbus vs Esteli (Esteli is 71% less expensive) Columbus vs Granada (Granada is 66% less expensive) Columbus vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 78% less expensive) Columbus vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 67% less expensive) Columbus vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 56% less expensive)