Columbus, IN Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Columbus, IN 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 Indiana, 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 100, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Columbus is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • Columbus ranks as the #103 cheapest in Indiana out of 128.

  • Columbus ranks as the #2,621 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Columbus is $274,869.

  • The median income in Columbus is $76,856.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
100
Columbus's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Columbus, IN?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Columbus has an overall cost of living index of 100, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Indiana, Columbus has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Indiana's index of 92.

The standard of living in Columbus ranks as #103 most affordable out of the 128 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies Columbus ranks as the #25 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.

For more reading on life in Columbus, check out:

103 out of 128
In Indiana
2,621 out of 6,489
In America

Columbus Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana

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 97.

  • The Groceries index in Columbus is 103.

  • The Health index in Columbus is 94.

  • The Housing index in Columbus is 94.

  • The Transportation index in Columbus is 98.

  • The Utilities index in Columbus is 105.

Living Expense Columbus Indiana National Average
Overall 100 92 100
Services 97 95 100
Groceries 103 97 100
Health 94 94 100
Housing 94 73 100
Transportation 98 94 100
Utilities 105 107 100
For more reading on cost of living around Indiana, check out:
Columbus Cost of Living Vs. IN

Columbus, IN Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Indiana, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Columbus is $274,869.

  • The Median Rent in Columbus is $1,135.

  • The Median Income in Columbus is $76,856.

  • The Home Value To Income in Columbus is 3.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Columbus is 0.18x.

Statistic Columbus Indiana United States
Median Home Value $274,869 $251,301 $303,400
Median Rent $1,135 $1,020 $1,348
Median Income $76,856 $70,051 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.6x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.17x 0.21x
$274,869
Median Home Value
$1,135
Median Rent
$76,856
Median Income

Columbus, IN Costs By Category

Detailed Columbus Services Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Columbus Indiana
Shampoo $1.36 $1.28
Movie $11.48 $12.13
Bowling $16.61 $18
Haircut $26.42 $24.26
Beauty Salon $47.57 $45.56

Detailed Columbus Groceries Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Columbus Indiana
Ground Beef $5.88 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.74 $1.57
Milk $4.78 $4.67
Potatoes $5.01 $4.93
Pizza $12.45 $12.09
Beer $10.53 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.55 $3.7

Detailed Columbus Health Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Columbus Indiana
Optometrist $173.41 $125.68
Doctor $108.22 $135.78
Dentist $104.94 $113.29

Detailed Columbus Transportation Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Columbus Indiana
Gasoline $3.56 $3.46
Tire Balancing $47.16 $59.92

Detailed Columbus Utilities Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Columbus Indiana
All Electricity $206.98 $193.99
Phone $190.02 $192.25

Columbus SnackAbility

7.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
8
Affordability
8
Diversity
8
Safety
N/A
Amenities
8.5
Education
8.5
Commute
9

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:

  • Bloomington, IN has a cost of living index of 101, 1.0x Columbus.

  • Greenwood, IN has a cost of living index of 99, 1.0x Columbus.

  • Lawrence, IN has a cost of living index of 96, 1.0x Columbus.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Columbus
Bloomington, IN 78,791 101 1.0x
Greenwood, IN 64,237 99 1.0x
Lawrence, IN 49,284 96 1.0x
Elizabethtown, KY 31,870 95 0.9x
Brownsburg, IN 30,310 101 1.0x
Greenfield, IN 24,308 95 0.9x
Danville, IN 11,049 98 1.0x
Bargersville, IN 10,163 106 1.1x
Cumberland, IN 6,154 96 1.0x
New Whiteland, IN 5,641 87 0.9x

Articles About Indiana

Enjoy The Snack?