What is the cost of living in Columbia, MS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Columbia has an overall cost of living index of 79, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Mississippi, Columbia has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Mississippi's index of 88.
The standard of living in Columbia ranks as #1 most affordable out of the 67 places we measured in Mississippi. By definition, that implies Columbia ranks as the #66 most expensive place in the Magnolia State.
For more reading on life in Columbia, check out:
Columbia Cost Of Living Vs. Mississippi
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 97.
The Groceries index in Columbia is 95.
The Health index in Columbia is 47.
The Housing index in Columbia is 98.
The Transportation index in Columbia is 97.
The Utilities index in Columbia is 95.
| Living Expense | Columbia | Mississippi | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 79 | 88 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 47 | 63 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 94 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 93 | 100 |
Columbia Cost Of Living Compared To Mississippi Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Mississippi, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Mississippi
- Most Affordable Cities In Mississippi
- Average Rent In Mississippi
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Columbia, MS Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Mississippi, 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 $133,497.
The Median Rent in Columbia is $806.
The Median Income in Columbia is $38,507.
The Home Value To Income in Columbia is 3.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Columbia is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Columbia | Mississippi | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $133,497 | $192,906 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $806 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $38,507 | $56,447 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.5x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Columbia, MS Costs By Category
Detailed Columbia Services costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Columbia | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.17 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.62 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $17.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.75 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $45.72 | $45.56 |
Detailed Columbia Groceries costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Columbia | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.76 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.74 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.55 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.16 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.24 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.16 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.59 | $3.7 |
Detailed Columbia Health costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Columbia | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $122.28 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $128.94 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $138.76 | $113.29 |
Detailed Columbia Transportation costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Columbia | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.08 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Columbia Utilities costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Columbia | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $162.85 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.62 | $192.25 |
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:
Hattiesburg, MS has a cost of living index of 87, 1.1x Columbia.
Brookhaven, MS has a cost of living index of 84, 1.1x Columbia.
Petal, MS has a cost of living index of 90, 1.1x Columbia.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hattiesburg, MS | 48,619 | 87 | 1.1x |
| Brookhaven, MS | 11,650 | 84 | 1.1x |
| Petal, MS | 11,294 | 90 | 1.1x |
| Bogalusa, LA | 10,468 | 87 | 1.1x |
| Georgetown, SC | 8,565 | 93 | 1.2x |
| West Hattiesburg, MS | 6,715 | 94 | 1.2x |
