Cost of Living in Columbia, SC
Cost of Living in Columbia, SC | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
---|---|---|
Housing (Buy and Rent) | 7% lower | 26% lower |
Utilities (Monthly) | 21% higher | 31% higher |
Food | 2% lower | 1% lower |
Healthcare | 9% lower | 15% lower |
Transportation | 14% lower | 18% lower |
Goods & Services | - | 2% lower |
The cost of living in Columbia, SC is 2% lower than the state average and 8% lower than the national average. Columbia, SC housing is 26% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 31% 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 15% 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 $1,416, while home prices circle around $348,591.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Columbia, energy bills cost around $294.96 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 $4.61 in Columbia, a dozen eggs go for around $3.79 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.42.
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 $60.25, while a dentist appointment is priced $77.75 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.14 in Columbia, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $32.48.
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 $33.67 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $34.27.
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 $12.91 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $20.57, while dry cleaning costs about $11.75.
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 $54,095.