What is the cost of living in Columbus, MS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Columbus has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Mississippi, Columbus has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Mississippi's index of 88.
The standard of living in Columbus ranks as #37 most affordable out of the 67 places we measured in Mississippi. By definition, that implies Columbus ranks as the #30 most expensive place in the Magnolia State.
For more reading on life in Columbus, check out:
Columbus Cost Of Living Vs. Mississippi
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Columbus. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Columbus is 100.
The Groceries index in Columbus is 94.
The Health index in Columbus is 69.
The Housing index in Columbus is 99.
The Transportation index in Columbus is 96.
The Utilities index in Columbus is 103.
| Living Expense | Columbus | Mississippi | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 88 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 94 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 69 | 63 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 94 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 93 | 100 |
Columbus 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
Columbus, 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 Columbus is $172,831.
The Median Rent in Columbus is $897.
The Median Income in Columbus is $42,235.
The Home Value To Income in Columbus is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Columbus is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Columbus | Mississippi | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $172,831 | $192,906 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $897 | $954 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $42,235 | $56,447 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.1x | 3.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Columbus, MS Costs By Category
Detailed Columbus Services costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Columbus | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.06 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.65 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $12.5 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.45 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $26.75 | $45.56 |
Detailed Columbus Groceries costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Columbus | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.01 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.62 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.51 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.06 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.06 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.17 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.71 | $3.7 |
Detailed Columbus Health costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Columbus | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $120.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $78.94 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Columbus Transportation costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Columbus | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.0 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Columbus Utilities costs vs. Mississippi
| Item | Columbus | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $148.63 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.87 | $192.25 |
Columbus SnackAbility
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:
Starkville, MS has a cost of living index of 94, 1.0x Columbus.
West Point, MS has a cost of living index of 85, 0.9x Columbus.
Amory, MS has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Columbus.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starkville, MS | 25,721 | 94 | 1.0x |
| West Point, MS | 9,900 | 85 | 0.9x |
| Amory, MS | 6,500 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Louisville, MS | 5,983 | 86 | 1.0x |
