Cost of Living in Columbia, MO
| Cost of Living in Columbia, MO | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 3% lower | 20% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 5% higher | 6% lower |
| Food | 2% lower | 3% lower |
| Healthcare | 5% higher | 0% |
| Transportation | 5% lower | 10% lower |
| Goods & Services | 8% lower | 6% lower |
The cost of living in Columbia, MO is 4% lower than the state average and 10% lower than the national average. Columbia, MO 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 3% cheaper in Columbia, MO than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 6% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 0% here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 6% 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 $1,703, while home prices circle around $430,944.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Columbia, energy bills cost around $195.54 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 $4.71 in Columbia, a dozen eggs go for around $4.48 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.19.
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 $160.33, while a dentist appointment is priced $101.00 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $2.89 in Columbia, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $50.88.
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 $41.10 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $38.44.
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 $12.73 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $31.51, while dry cleaning costs about $21.80.
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 $66,498.