Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,480/mo est.

vs
Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,480 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,220 in Columbia, SC. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $55,653 in Columbia, SC — about 33% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Columbia, SC

Rent

Studio
$998
$802
+20% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$1,026
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,164
+23% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,338
+29% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$243,500
+42% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$55,653
+33% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$46,430
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
28.7 yr
+6.9 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
61.3%
47.3%
+14.0 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
46.1%
+4.2 pp in Columbia, SC
Avg Commute
22.8 min
17.4 min
+5.4 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
722.1
769.9
+7% in Columbia, SC
Property Crime
3,488.7
3,265.1
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.0°F
64.9°F
+15.9°F in Columbia, SC
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
45.4 in
+28.9 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.13/gal
$3.94/gal
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

Adult base one-way fare — Mountain Metro vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
17.1
15.6
+9% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.05
$29.07
+93% in Columbia, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Columbia, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / SC)
2.9%
6%
+3.1 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
6.00%
+1.6 pp in SC

Colorado Springs vs Columbia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Columbia?
Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Columbia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $41,000 in Columbia.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Columbia?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).