Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/mo est.

vs
Columbus

Ohio

$1,250/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,250 in Columbus, OH. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 15% 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 $65,327 in Columbus, OH — about 21% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Columbus, OH

Rent

Studio
$998
$1,014
+2% in Columbus, OH
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$1,059
+19% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,276
+15% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,369
+27% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$234,500
+44% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$65,327
+21% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$51,340
+3% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
33.0 yr
+2.6 yr in Colorado Springs, CO
Homeownership
61.3%
44.3%
+17.0 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
38.2%
+3.7 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Avg Commute
22.8 min
21.8 min
+1.0 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
721.1
484.8
+33% in Colorado Springs, CO
Property Crime
3,487.9
3,092.7
+11% 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
52.7°F
+3.7°F in Columbus, OH
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
40.1 in
+23.6 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.54/gal
$4.56/gal
+0% in Columbus, OH

Area: Colorado vs Ohio.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
$2.00
+14% in Columbus, OH

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.7
18.8
+12% in Columbus, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.64
$13.75
+18% in Columbus, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.14
+5% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.79
+15% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$3.63
+61% in Columbus, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.97
+4% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.15
+1% in Columbus, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.63
+15% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / OH)
2.9%
5.75%
+2.9 pp in OH
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
2.75%
+1.7 pp in CO

Colorado Springs vs Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Columbus?
Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Columbus?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $42,000 in Columbus.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Columbus?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Columbus under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).