Columbus, NE Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Columbus, NE 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 Nebraska, 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 94, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Columbus is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Columbus ranks as the #24 cheapest in Nebraska out of 34.

  • Columbus ranks as the #1,806 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Columbus is $268,972.

  • The median income in Columbus is $67,212.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
94
Columbus's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Columbus, NE?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Columbus has an overall cost of living index of 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Nebraska, Columbus has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Nebraska's index of 89.

The standard of living in Columbus ranks as #24 most affordable out of the 34 places we measured in Nebraska. By definition, that implies Columbus ranks as the #10 most expensive place in the Cornhusker State.

For more reading on life in Columbus, check out:

24 out of 34
In Nebraska
1,806 out of 6,489
In America

Columbus Cost Of Living Vs. Nebraska

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 104.

  • The Groceries index in Columbus is 98.

  • The Health index in Columbus is 111.

  • The Housing index in Columbus is 84.

  • The Transportation index in Columbus is 105.

  • The Utilities index in Columbus is 79.

Living Expense Columbus Nebraska National Average
Overall 94 89 100
Services 104 94 100
Groceries 98 97 100
Health 111 99 100
Housing 84 77 100
Transportation 105 100 100
Utilities 79 86 100
For more reading on cost of living around Nebraska, check out:
Columbus Cost of Living Vs. NE

Columbus, NE Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Nebraska, 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 $268,972.

  • The Median Rent in Columbus is $871.

  • The Median Income in Columbus is $67,212.

  • The Home Value To Income in Columbus is 4.0x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Columbus is 0.16x.

Statistic Columbus Nebraska United States
Median Home Value $268,972 $272,244 $303,400
Median Rent $871 $1,035 $1,348
Median Income $67,212 $74,985 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.0x 3.6x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.16x 0.17x 0.21x
$268,972
Median Home Value
$871
Median Rent
$67,212
Median Income

Columbus, NE Costs By Category

Detailed Columbus Services Costs Vs. Nebraska

Item Columbus Nebraska
Shampoo $1.35 $1.28
Movie $12.09 $12.13
Bowling $17.47 $18
Haircut $31.0 $24.26
Beauty Salon $45.12 $45.56

Detailed Columbus Groceries Costs Vs. Nebraska

Item Columbus Nebraska
Ground Beef $6.17 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.37 $1.57
Milk $4.68 $4.67
Potatoes $4.5 $4.93
Pizza $11.23 $12.09
Beer $9.42 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.71 $3.7

Detailed Columbus Health Costs Vs. Nebraska

Item Columbus Nebraska
Optometrist $114.63 $125.68
Doctor $168.72 $135.78
Dentist $118.87 $113.29

Detailed Columbus Transportation Costs Vs. Nebraska

Item Columbus Nebraska
Gasoline $3.39 $3.46
Tire Balancing $73.74 $59.92

Detailed Columbus Utilities Costs Vs. Nebraska

Item Columbus Nebraska
All Electricity $128.83 $193.99
Phone $201.86 $192.25

Columbus SnackAbility

7
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
6
Affordability
8.5
Diversity
8
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9
Education
7
Commute
10

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:

  • Seward, NE has a cost of living index of 98, 1.0x Columbus.

  • Schuyler, NE has a cost of living index of 85, 0.9x Columbus.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Columbus
Seward, NE 7,665 98 1.0x
Schuyler, NE 6,517 85 0.9x

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