Cost of living in Columbus, GA Livability score 76 · cost-of-living index 88.8 (US = 100)
How Columbus compares Where Columbus 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): 89 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 89 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $210k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $210k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $102 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $102 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: 0.79% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.79% Violent crime (per 100k) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 370 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 370 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 15.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 15.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 89° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 89° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 34° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 34° Map of Columbus Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 88.8 #14 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 96.3 #96 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.06 #14 of 200 Median household income $55,720 #188 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $35,064 #171 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 6.87% #181 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +5.2% #76 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $209,527 #16 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.8× #36 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +3.0% #47 of 200 Price per square foot $102 #11 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,050 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,278 #23 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 1,137 Median days on market 17 #98 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 8.9% #27 of 200 Combined sales tax 7.38% #99 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 5.39% Capital gains tax 5.39% #125 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 0.79% #77 of 200 Median property tax paid $1,354 #26 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,400 #32 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $9,500 #37 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $40 #4 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) None #1 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in 13 metro Atlanta counties DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 22 min #46 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 15.4¢/kWh #41 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $138 #41 of 200 Gasoline $3.15/gal #57 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $74 #133 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $123 #138 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $88 #190 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,100 #124 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,900 #86 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $700 #61 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 42 #1 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,800 #134 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 2,800 #76 of 200 Avg summer high 89°F #113 of 200 Avg winter low 34°F #76 of 200 Annual precipitation 50.4" #158 of 200 Annual snowfall 2.2" #72 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 60% #85 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 8a Frost window 03-10 → 11-20
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 370 #65 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 2,000 #83 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 120 #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
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.