What is the cost of living in Columbia, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Columbia has an overall cost of living index of 100, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, Columbia has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than South Carolina's index of 92.
The standard of living in Columbia ranks as #64 most affordable out of the 98 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Columbia ranks as the #34 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Columbia, check out:
Columbia Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
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 100.
The Groceries index in Columbia is 102.
The Health index in Columbia is 103.
The Housing index in Columbia is 100.
The Transportation index in Columbia is 105.
The Utilities index in Columbia is 95.
| Living Expense | Columbia | South Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 92 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 103 | 82 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 101 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 97 | 100 |
Columbia Cost Of Living Compared To South Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around South Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In South Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In South Carolina
- Average Rent In South Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Columbia, SC Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in South Carolina, 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 $229,067.
The Median Rent in Columbia is $1,204.
The Median Income in Columbia is $55,529.
The Home Value To Income in Columbia is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Columbia is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Columbia | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $229,067 | $304,083 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,204 | $1,180 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $55,529 | $69,324 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.1x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Columbia, SC Costs By Category
Detailed Columbia Services costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Columbia | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.33 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.93 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $24.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $20.75 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $30.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Columbia Groceries costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Columbia | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.15 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.5 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.35 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.53 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.65 | $3.7 |
Detailed Columbia Health costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Columbia | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $59.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $150.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $78.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Columbia Transportation costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Columbia | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.22 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $32.03 | $59.92 |
Detailed Columbia Utilities costs vs. South Carolina
| Item | Columbia | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $290.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.75 | $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:
Lexington, SC has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Columbia.
St. Andrews, SC has a cost of living index of 88, 0.9x Columbia.
West Columbia, SC has a cost of living index of 95, 0.9x Columbia.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, SC | 24,585 | 102 | 1.0x |
| St. Andrews, SC | 19,868 | 88 | 0.9x |
| West Columbia, SC | 17,963 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Seven Oaks, SC | 15,921 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Dentsville, SC | 15,209 | 91 | 0.9x |
| Cayce, SC | 13,741 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Oak Grove, SC | 12,256 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Irmo, SC | 11,813 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Forest Acres, SC | 10,530 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Lugoff, SC | 9,786 | 94 | 0.9x |
