What is the cost of living in Columbia, IL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Columbia has an overall cost of living index of 103, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Illinois, Columbia has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Illinois's index of 98.
The standard of living in Columbia ranks as #173 most affordable out of the 336 places we measured in Illinois. By definition, that implies Columbia ranks as the #163 most expensive place in the Prairie State.
For more reading on life in Columbia, check out:
Columbia Cost Of Living Vs. Illinois
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Columbia. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Columbia is 94.
The Groceries index in Columbia is 96.
The Health index in Columbia is 113.
The Housing index in Columbia is 97.
The Transportation index in Columbia is 101.
The Utilities index in Columbia is 90.
| Living Expense | Columbia | Illinois | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 94 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Health | 113 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 90 | 101 | 100 |
Columbia Cost Of Living Compared To Illinois Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Illinois, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Columbia Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Columbia, IL Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Illinois, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Columbia is $342,741.
The Median Rent in Columbia is $1,128.
The Median Income in Columbia is $107,606.
The Home Value To Income in Columbia is 3.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Columbia is 0.13x.
Columbia, IL Costs By Category
Detailed Columbia Services costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Columbia Groceries costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Columbia Health costs vs. Illinois
Detailed Columbia Transportation costs vs. Illinois
Columbia SnackAbility
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:
Oakville, MO has a cost of living index of 103, 1.0x Columbia.
O'Fallon, IL has a cost of living index of 107, 1.0x Columbia.
Mehlville, MO has a cost of living index of 94, 0.9x Columbia.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakville, MO | 35,333 | 103 | 1.0x |
| O'Fallon, IL | 32,262 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Mehlville, MO | 29,805 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Kirkwood, MO | 29,363 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Collinsville, IL | 24,031 | 91 | 0.9x |
| Fairview Heights, IL | 16,745 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Lemay, MO | 16,228 | 86 | 0.8x |
| Swansea, IL | 14,710 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Shiloh, IL | 14,572 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Town and Country, MO | 11,607 | 168 | 1.6x |
