Cost of Living in Columbia, SC
| Cost of Living in Columbia, SC | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 13% lower | 31% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 1% higher | 5% higher |
| Food | 3% lower | 1% lower |
| Healthcare | 8% lower | 14% lower |
| Transportation | 12% lower | 16% lower |
| Goods & Services | 2% lower | 2% lower |
The cost of living in Columbia, SC is 5% lower than the state average and 11% lower than the national average. Columbia, SC housing is 31% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 5% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 1% cheaper in Columbia, SC than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 2% 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 2% cheaper in Columbia, SC.
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 $1,472, while home prices circle around $337,081.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Columbia, energy bills cost around $227.59 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 $4.16 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.26.
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 $79.00, while a dentist appointment is priced $89.25 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.04 in Columbia, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $39.05.
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 $31.56 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $31.57.
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 $13.43 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $26.25, while dry cleaning costs about $13.24.
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 $55,653.