What is the cost of living in Columbus, OH?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Columbus has an overall cost of living index of 96, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Ohio, Columbus has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Ohio's index of 90.
The standard of living in Columbus ranks as #202 most affordable out of the 284 places we measured in Ohio. By definition, that implies Columbus ranks as the #82 most expensive place in the Buckeye State.
For more reading on life in Columbus, check out:
Columbus Cost Of Living Vs. Ohio
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 101.
The Groceries index in Columbus is 99.
The Health index in Columbus is 93.
The Housing index in Columbus is 100.
The Transportation index in Columbus is 97.
The Utilities index in Columbus is 94.
| Living Expense | Columbus | Ohio | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 96 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 93 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 97 | 100 |
Columbus Cost Of Living Compared To Ohio Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Ohio, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Columbus Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Columbus, OH Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Ohio, 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 $245,979.
The Median Rent in Columbus is $1,295.
The Median Income in Columbus is $66,082.
The Home Value To Income in Columbus is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Columbus is 0.24x.
Columbus, OH Costs By Category
Detailed Columbus Services costs vs. Ohio
Detailed Columbus Groceries costs vs. Ohio
Detailed Columbus Health costs vs. Ohio
Detailed Columbus Transportation costs vs. Ohio
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:
Dublin, OH has a cost of living index of 125, 1.3x Columbus.
Westerville, OH has a cost of living index of 108, 1.1x Columbus.
Hilliard, OH has a cost of living index of 109, 1.1x Columbus.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin, OH | 49,294 | 125 | 1.3x |
| Westerville, OH | 38,645 | 108 | 1.1x |
| Hilliard, OH | 38,033 | 109 | 1.1x |
| Upper Arlington, OH | 36,293 | 132 | 1.4x |
| Gahanna, OH | 35,486 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Whitehall, OH | 20,019 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Worthington, OH | 14,938 | 111 | 1.2x |
| Powell, OH | 14,451 | 125 | 1.3x |
| Bexley, OH | 13,114 | 126 | 1.3x |
| New Albany, OH | 10,896 | 146 | 1.5x |
