Cost of Living in Columbia, MO
Cost of Living in Columbia, MO | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
---|---|---|
Housing (Buy and Rent) | 1% higher | 17% lower |
Utilities (Monthly) | 1% lower | 6% lower |
Food | 2% lower | 4% lower |
Healthcare | 1% higher | 6% lower |
Transportation | 12% lower | 13% lower |
Goods & Services | 1% higher | 5% lower |
The cost of living in Columbia, MO is 1% lower than the state average and 9% lower than the national average. Columbia, MO housing is 17% 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 5% less in Columbia, MO than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 5% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 6% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 5% cheaper in Columbia, MO.
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 Columbia is $1,525, while home prices circle around $453,733.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Columbia, energy bills cost around $173.12 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 $4.67 in Columbia, a dozen eggs go for around $3.82 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.60.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Columbia, an optometry check-up costs around $136.06, while a dentist appointment is priced $98.25 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.08 in Columbia, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $45.75.
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 $36.02 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $35.15.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Columbia, you should budget around $11.86 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $24.86, while dry cleaning costs about $18.08.
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 Columbia, the median household income is $60,455.