Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Columbia?

Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Columbia?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $41,000 in Columbia.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Columbia?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Columbia under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Columbia Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $1,220 in Columbia, SC. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $55,653 in Columbia, SC — about 24% higher in Arlington, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Columbia, SC

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$802

+26% in Arlington, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,026

+13% in Arlington, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,164

+17% in Arlington, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,338

+26% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$243,500

+12% in Arlington, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$55,653

+24% in Arlington, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$46,430

+10% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

28.7 yr

+4.9 yr in Arlington, TX

Homeownership

54.8%

47.3%

+7.5 pp in Arlington, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

46.1%

+13.0 pp in Columbia, SC

Avg Commute

26.7 min

17.4 min

+9.3 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

494.2

769.9

+56% in Columbia, SC

Property Crime

2,434.5

3,265.1

+34% in Columbia, SC

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

64.9°F

+0.5°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

45.4 in

+5.8 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.58/gal

$3.94/gal

+10% in Columbia, SC

Area: Texas vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

15.6

+2% in Arlington, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$29.07

+9% in Arlington, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / SC)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.00%

+6.0 pp in SC

Arlington vs Columbia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Columbia?: Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Columbia?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $41,000 in Columbia.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Columbia?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Columbia under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).