Cost of Living in Columbus, OH
| Cost of Living in Columbus, OH | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 11% higher | 20% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 1% lower | 6% lower |
| Food | 1% higher | 2% lower |
| Healthcare | 6% lower | 14% lower |
| Transportation | 11% lower | 10% lower |
| Goods & Services | 2% lower | 6% lower |
The cost of living in Columbus, OH is 1% higher than the state average and 10% lower than the national average. Columbus, OH housing is 20% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 6% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 6% less in Columbus, OH than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 6% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 14% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 6% cheaper in Columbus, OH.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Columbus is $1,237, while home prices circle around $369,903.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Columbus, energy bills cost around $164.71 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $2.63 in Columbus, a dozen eggs go for around $2.79 and a pound of potatoes circles around $3.70.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Columbus, an optometry check-up costs around $61.53, while a dentist appointment is priced $87.79 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.67 in Columbus, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $42.17.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $38.42 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $35.07.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Columbus, you should budget around $11.33 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $20.17, while dry cleaning costs about $17.29.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Columbus, the median household income is $62,994.