Columbia, SC Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Columbia, SC Summary
Cost of living in Columbia 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 Columbia is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in South Carolina, 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 Columbia is 99, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Columbia is 1.0x lower than the national average.
Columbia ranks as the #61 cheapest in South Carolina out of 99.
Columbia ranks as the #2,497 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Columbia is $225,992.
The median income in Columbia is $55,653.
Table Of Contents
Columbia's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
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 99, 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 93.
The standard of living in Columbia ranks as #61 most affordable out of the 99 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies Columbia ranks as the #38 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in Columbia, check out:
In South Carolina
In America
Columbia Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Columbia. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Columbia is 98.
The Groceries index in Columbia is 97.
The Health index in Columbia is 86.
The Housing index in Columbia is 102.
The Transportation index in Columbia is 82.
The Utilities index in Columbia is 132.
| Living Expense | Columbia | South Carolina | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 99 | 93 | 100 | |
| Services | 98 | 102 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 97 | 97 | 100 | |
| Health | 86 | 92 | 100 | |
| Housing | 102 | 81 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 82 | 92 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 132 | 109 | 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 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Columbia is $225,992.
The Median Rent in Columbia is $1,158.
The Median Income in Columbia is $55,653.
The Home Value To Income in Columbia is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Columbia is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Columbia | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $225,992 | $302,294 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,158 | $1,126 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $55,653 | $66,818 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.1x | 4.5x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
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
/10
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 89, 0.9x Columbia.
West Columbia, SC has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x Columbia.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, SC | 24,132 | 102 | 1.0x |
| St. Andrews, SC | 20,953 | 89 | 0.9x |
| West Columbia, SC | 17,723 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Seven Oaks, SC | 15,990 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Dentsville, SC | 15,396 | 91 | 0.9x |
| Cayce, SC | 13,718 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Oak Grove, SC | 12,031 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Irmo, SC | 11,799 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Forest Acres, SC | 10,491 | 103 | 1.0x |
| Woodfield, SC | 9,901 | 94 | 0.9x |
