Columbus, WI Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Columbus, WI 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 Wisconsin, 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 102, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Columbus is 1.0x higher than the national average.

  • Columbus ranks as the #87 cheapest in Wisconsin out of 146.

  • Columbus ranks as the #2,846 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Columbus is $300,578.

  • The median income in Columbus is $74,957.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
102
Columbus's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Columbus, WI?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Columbus has an overall cost of living index of 102, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to Wisconsin, Columbus has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Wisconsin's index of 95.

The standard of living in Columbus ranks as #87 most affordable out of the 146 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies Columbus ranks as the #59 most expensive place in the Badger State.

For more reading on life in Columbus, check out:

87 out of 146
In Wisconsin
2,846 out of 6,489
In America

Columbus Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin

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 105.

  • The Groceries index in Columbus is 100.

  • The Health index in Columbus is 119.

  • The Housing index in Columbus is 90.

  • The Transportation index in Columbus is 102.

  • The Utilities index in Columbus is 107.

Living Expense Columbus Wisconsin National Average
Overall 102 95 100
Services 105 98 100
Groceries 100 100 100
Health 119 111 100
Housing 90 88 100
Transportation 102 100 100
Utilities 107 102 100
For more reading on cost of living around Wisconsin, check out:
Columbus Cost of Living Vs. WI

Columbus, WI Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Wisconsin, 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 $300,578.

  • The Median Rent in Columbus is $814.

  • The Median Income in Columbus is $74,957.

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

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Columbus is 0.13x.

Statistic Columbus Wisconsin United States
Median Home Value $300,578 $328,216 $303,400
Median Rent $814 $1,045 $1,348
Median Income $74,957 $75,670 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.0x 4.3x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.13x 0.17x 0.21x
$300,578
Median Home Value
$814
Median Rent
$74,957
Median Income

Columbus, WI Costs By Category

Detailed Columbus Services Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Columbus Wisconsin
Shampoo $1.22 $1.28
Movie $12.47 $12.13
Bowling $27.76 $18
Haircut $24.26 $24.26
Beauty Salon $66.46 $45.56

Detailed Columbus Groceries Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Columbus Wisconsin
Ground Beef $6.27 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.45 $1.57
Milk $4.79 $4.67
Potatoes $4.2 $4.93
Pizza $10.96 $12.09
Beer $8.82 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.76 $3.7

Detailed Columbus Health Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Columbus Wisconsin
Optometrist $70.37 $125.68
Doctor $222.85 $135.78
Dentist $122.45 $113.29

Detailed Columbus Transportation Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Columbus Wisconsin
Gasoline $3.39 $3.46
Tire Balancing $65.66 $59.92

Detailed Columbus Utilities Costs Vs. Wisconsin

Item Columbus Wisconsin
All Electricity $226.9 $193.99
Phone $185.25 $192.25

Columbus SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8.5/10
Housing
7
Affordability
8.5
Diversity
4
Safety
8
Amenities
8
Education
8.5
Commute
6

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:

  • Sun Prairie, WI has a cost of living index of 114, 1.1x Columbus.

  • Watertown, WI has a cost of living index of 101, 1.0x Columbus.

  • Beaver Dam, WI has a cost of living index of 96, 0.9x Columbus.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Columbus
Sun Prairie, WI 36,455 114 1.1x
Watertown, WI 22,873 101 1.0x
Beaver Dam, WI 16,629 96 0.9x
DeForest, WI 10,853 112 1.1x
Cottage Grove, WI 7,906 119 1.2x
Lake Mills, WI 6,391 104 1.0x

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