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 99, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Wisconsin, Columbus has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Wisconsin's index of 98.
The standard of living in Columbus ranks as #76 most affordable out of the 146 places we measured in Wisconsin. By definition, that implies Columbus ranks as the #70 most expensive place in the Badger State.
For more reading on life in Columbus, check out:
Columbus Cost Of Living Vs. Wisconsin
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 100.
The Groceries index in Columbus is 100.
The Health index in Columbus is 90.
The Housing index in Columbus is 96.
The Transportation index in Columbus is 100.
The Utilities index in Columbus is 101.
| Living Expense | Columbus | Wisconsin | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 90 | 91 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 102 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 100 | 100 |
Columbus Cost Of Living Compared To Wisconsin Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Wisconsin, 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, 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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Columbus is $311,070.
The Median Rent in Columbus is $874.
The Median Income in Columbus is $75,427.
The Home Value To Income in Columbus is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Columbus is 0.14x.
Columbus, WI Costs By Category
Detailed Columbus Services costs vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Columbus Groceries costs vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Columbus Health costs vs. Wisconsin
Detailed Columbus Transportation costs vs. Wisconsin
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:
Sun Prairie, WI has a cost of living index of 111, 1.1x Columbus.
Watertown, WI has a cost of living index of 93, 0.9x Columbus.
Beaver Dam, WI has a cost of living index of 94, 0.9x Columbus.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Prairie, WI | 37,570 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Watertown, WI | 22,774 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Beaver Dam, WI | 16,565 | 94 | 0.9x |
| DeForest, WI | 11,501 | 107 | 1.1x |
| Cottage Grove, WI | 8,513 | 113 | 1.1x |
| Lake Mills, WI | 6,470 | 102 | 1.0x |
