Cost of living in Columbia, SC Livability score 69 · cost-of-living index 93.2 (US = 100)
How Columbia compares Where Columbia falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 93 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 93 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $256k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $256k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $128 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $128 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.4% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.4% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.63% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.63% Violent crime (per 100k) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 530 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 530 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 17.1 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 17.1 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 91° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 91° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 36° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 36° Map of Columbia Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 93.2 #77 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 95.9 #69 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.30 #74 of 200 Median household income $63,471 #151 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $37,617 #133 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 5.71% #138 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +2.9% #127 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $256,154 #48 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.0× #54 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +1.3% #102 of 200 Price per square foot $128 #37 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,000 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,537 #90 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 3,467 Median days on market 22 #128 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 8.9% #27 of 200 Combined sales tax 7.44% #103 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 6.40% Capital gains tax 6.40% #140 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 0.63% #39 of 200 Median property tax paid $1,211 #20 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,500 #53 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $8,500 #19 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $40 #4 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 2.33% of value (~$652/yr) #186 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 2 Avg commute to work 25 min #119 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 17.1¢/kWh #107 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $154 #107 of 200 Gasoline $3.05/gal #45 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,000 #110 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,900 #86 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $900 #152 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $350 #149 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 47 #107 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 2,000 #138 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 2,000 #44 of 200 Avg summer high 91°F #136 of 200 Avg winter low 36°F #71 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 8a Frost window 03-10 → 11-20
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 530 #180 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 2,900 #173 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 46 #115 of 200 Parks 36 Hiking areas 5 Golf courses 23 Shooting ranges 3 Lakes 5
Permits Metric Value US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts (Google Maps listings) via our own scraper.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.