Is Columbus expensive to live in?

Columbus is around the middle of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,059 per month ranks #36 of 50 and is 13% lower than the $1,223 median.

What is the average rent in Columbus?

Average rent in Columbus, OH runs a studio around $1,014, a one-bedroom around $1,059, a two-bedroom around $1,276, a three-bedroom around $1,369 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Columbus?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,059 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year. The median household income here is $65,327.

How much does it cost to live in Columbus per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Columbus is about $1,250 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Man in black jacket and pants standing on gray concrete pavement near high rise buildings — Columbus, OH

Cost of Living in Columbus, OH

Population 905,748 · Ohio

~$1,250/mo est.1BR $1,059Home $234,500

Photo: Mike Beaumont / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Columbus, OH is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,059 a month — 13% lower than the $1,223 median across the 50 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,014 and two-bedrooms $1,276.

Median household income here is $65,327, 14% lower than the $75,900 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,250 before food and transport. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,059

Studio

$1,014

1 Bedroom

$1,059

2 Bedroom

$1,276

3 Bedroom

$1,369

Buying a Home$234,500

Median Home Value

$234,500

Income$65,327

Median Household Income

$65,327

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,340

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesMidwest

Milk (gal)

$4.14

Bread (lb)

$1.79

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.97

Chicken (lb)

$2.15

Bananas (lb)

$0.63

Average prices, Midwest (BLS, 2026-04-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities18.8¢/kWh

Electricity

18.8¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$13.75/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-03-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$4.56/gal

Regular Gasoline (Ohio)

$4.56/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-05-25.

Public Transit$2.00

Base Fare (COTA)

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare on the primary agency (2026).

State Taxes (OH)5.75% sales

State Sales Tax

5.75%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 2.75%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime484.8 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

484.8

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

3,092.7

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Columbus Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 33.0 yrs

Median Age

33.0 yrs

Homeownership

44.3%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.2%

Avg Commute

21.8 min

Climate52.7°F

Avg Annual Temperature

52.7°F

Annual Precipitation

40.1 in

Columbus cost of living — FAQ

Is Columbus expensive to live in?: Columbus is around the middle of the 50 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,059 per month ranks #36 of 50 and is 13% lower than the $1,223 median.
What is the average rent in Columbus?: Average rent in Columbus, OH runs a studio around $1,014, a one-bedroom around $1,059, a two-bedroom around $1,276, a three-bedroom around $1,369 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Columbus?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,059 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year. The median household income here is $65,327.
How much does it cost to live in Columbus per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Columbus is about $1,250 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Columbus with nearby cities

Columbus vs Indianapolis Columbus vs Louisville Columbus vs Chicago Columbus vs Washington Columbus vs Milwaukee Columbus vs Nashville

Nearby cities

Indianapolis, IN 168 mi Louisville, KY 189 mi Chicago, IL 276 mi Washington, DC 326 mi Milwaukee, WI 331 mi Nashville, TN 333 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.