Columbus, IN Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Columbus, IN 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 Indiana, 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 96, with 100 being the average.

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

  • Columbus ranks as the #96 cheapest in Indiana out of 124.

  • Columbus ranks as the #2,601 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Columbus is $185,300.

  • The median income in Columbus is $72,380.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
96
Columbus's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Columbus, IN?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Columbus has an overall cost of living index of 96, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Indiana, Columbus has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Indiana's index of 91.

The standard of living in Columbus ranks as #96 most affordable out of the 124 places we measured in Indiana. By definition, that implies Columbus ranks as the #28 most expensive place in the Hoosier State.

For more reading on life in Columbus, check out:

96 out of 124
In Indiana
2,601 out of 6,412
In America

Columbus Cost Of Living Vs. Indiana

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 106.

  • The Groceries index in Columbus is 100.

  • The Health index in Columbus is 98.

  • The Housing index in Columbus is 81.

  • The Transportation index in Columbus is 101.

  • The Utilities index in Columbus is 93.

Living Expense Columbus Indiana National Average
Overall 96 91 100
Services 106 94 100
Groceries 100 96 100
Health 98 101 100
Housing 81 77 100
Transportation 101 95 100
Utilities 93 106 100
For more reading on cost of living around Indiana, check out:
Columbus Cost of Living Vs. IN

Columbus, IN Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Indiana, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Columbus is $185,300.

  • The Median Rent in Columbus is $1,035.

  • The Median Income in Columbus is $72,380.

  • The Home Value To Income in Columbus is 2.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Columbus is 0.17x.

Statistic Columbus Indiana United States
Median Home Value $185,300 $158,500 $244,900
Median Rent $1,035 $891 $1,163
Median Income $72,380 $61,944 $69,021
Home Value To Income 2.6x 2.6x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.17x 0.17x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Columbus, IN
$185,300
Median Home Value
$1,035
Median Rent
$72,380
Median Income

Columbus, IN Costs By Category

Detailed Columbus Services Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Columbus Indiana
Shampoo $0.97 $1.06
Movie $10.84 $10.68
Bowling $16.8 $14.67
Haircut $21.78 $18.62
Beauty Salon $40.22 $39.05

Detailed Columbus Groceries Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Columbus Indiana
Ground Beef $4.5 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.57 $1.39
Milk $1.39 $2.05
Potatoes $3.17 $3.29
Pizza $11.32 $10.62
Beer $9.05 $9.38
Toothpaste $1.87 $2.34

Detailed Columbus Health Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Columbus Indiana
Optometrist $132.05 $108.57
Doctor $100.0 $116.17
Dentist $98.07 $99.13

Detailed Columbus Transportation Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Columbus Indiana
Gasoline $2.29 $2.22
Tire Balancing $45.48 $50.07

Detailed Columbus Utilities Costs Vs. Indiana

Item Columbus Indiana
All Electricity $147.72 $167.67
Phone $184.27 $175.64

Columbus SnackAbility

7.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
8
Affordability
8
Diversity
8
Safety
N/A
Amenities
8.5
Education
8.5
Commute
9

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:

  • Bloomington, IN has a cost of living index of 97, 1.0x Columbus.

  • Greenwood, IN has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Columbus.

  • Lawrence, IN has a cost of living index of 87, 0.9x Columbus.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Columbus
Bloomington, IN 80,064 97 1.0x
Greenwood, IN 62,914 92 1.0x
Lawrence, IN 49,048 87 0.9x
Elizabethtown, KY 31,066 98 1.0x
Brownsburg, IN 28,420 95 1.0x
Greenfield, IN 23,024 88 0.9x
Danville, IN 10,424 92 1.0x
Bargersville, IN 9,024 93 1.0x
Cumberland, IN 5,860 93 1.0x
New Whiteland, IN 5,565 91 0.9x

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