West Columbia, SC Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In West Columbia, SC Summary
Cost of living in West 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 West 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 West Columbia is 95, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in West Columbia is 0.9x lower than the national average.
West Columbia ranks as the #45 cheapest in South Carolina out of 99.
West Columbia ranks as the #1,954 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in West Columbia is $221,146.
The median income in West Columbia is $54,152.
Table Of Contents
West Columbia's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in West Columbia, SC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, West Columbia has an overall cost of living index of 95, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to South Carolina, West Columbia has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than South Carolina's index of 93.
The standard of living in West Columbia ranks as #45 most affordable out of the 99 places we measured in South Carolina. By definition, that implies West Columbia ranks as the #54 most expensive place in the Palmetto State.
For more reading on life in West Columbia, check out:
In South Carolina
In America
West Columbia Cost Of Living Vs. South Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in West Columbia. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in West Columbia is 98.
The Groceries index in West Columbia is 100.
The Health index in West Columbia is 87.
The Housing index in West Columbia is 88.
The Transportation index in West Columbia is 80.
The Utilities index in West Columbia is 132.
| Living Expense | West Columbia | South Carolina | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 95 | 93 | 100 | |
| Services | 98 | 102 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 100 | 97 | 100 | |
| Health | 87 | 92 | 100 | |
| Housing | 88 | 81 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 80 | 92 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 132 | 109 | 100 | |
West 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 West Columbia is $221,146.
The Median Rent in West Columbia is $1,092.
The Median Income in West Columbia is $54,152.
The Home Value To Income in West Columbia is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in West Columbia is 0.24x.
| Statistic | West Columbia | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $221,146 | $302,294 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,092 | $1,126 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $54,152 | $66,818 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.1x | 4.5x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
West Columbia, SC Costs By Category
Detailed West Columbia Services Costs Vs. South Carolina
| Item | West 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 West Columbia Groceries Costs Vs. South Carolina
| Item | West 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 West Columbia Health Costs Vs. South Carolina
| Item | West Columbia | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $59.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $150.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $78.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed West Columbia Transportation Costs Vs. South Carolina
| Item | West Columbia | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.22 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $32.03 | $59.92 |
Detailed West Columbia Utilities Costs Vs. South Carolina
| Item | West Columbia | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $290.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.75 | $192.25 |
West Columbia SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around West Columbia
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around West 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, 1.1x West Columbia.
St. Andrews, SC has a cost of living index of 89, 0.9x West Columbia.
Seven Oaks, SC has a cost of living index of 97, 1.0x West Columbia.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. West Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, SC | 24,132 | 102 | 1.1x |
| St. Andrews, SC | 20,953 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Seven Oaks, SC | 15,990 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Dentsville, SC | 15,396 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Cayce, SC | 13,718 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Oak Grove, SC | 12,031 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Irmo, SC | 11,799 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Red Bank, SC | 10,950 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Forest Acres, SC | 10,491 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Woodfield, SC | 9,901 | 94 | 1.0x |
