Living Cost Compare
Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

vs
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,300 in Hartford, CT. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Hartford, CT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $45,300 in Hartford, CT — about 19% higher in Columbia, SC. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Columbia, SC
Hartford, CT

Rent

Studio
$802
$973
+21% in Hartford, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,026
$1,042
+2% in Hartford, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,164
$1,296
+11% in Hartford, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,338
$1,433
+7% in Hartford, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$243,500
$217,200
+11% in Columbia, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$55,653
$45,300
+19% in Columbia, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,430
$59,940
+29% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
33.4 yr
+4.7 yr in Hartford, CT
Homeownership
47.3%
25.7%
+21.6 pp in Columbia, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.1%
18.3%
+27.8 pp in Columbia, SC
Avg Commute
17.4 min
22.8 min
+5.4 min in Hartford, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
769.9
527.5
+31% in Columbia, SC
Property Crime
3,265.1
2,949.2
+10% 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
64.9°F
51.2°F
+13.7°F in Columbia, SC
Annual Precipitation
45.4 in
43.6 in
+1.8 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.6
24.3
+56% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$29.07
$23.33
+20% in Columbia, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Hartford, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Hartford, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Columbia, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Hartford, CT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Hartford, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / CT)
6%
6.35%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.00%
6.99%
+1.0 pp in CT

Columbia vs Hartford — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Hartford?
Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Hartford, CT's $1,300, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Hartford?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $42,000 in Hartford.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Hartford?
Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).