Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Rochester?

Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Rochester, MN's $1,290, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Rochester?

Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Columbia vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,290/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 $1,290 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 37% higher in Rochester, MN. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Columbia, SC

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$802

$1,080

+35% in Rochester, MN

1 Bedroom

$1,026

$1,106

+8% in Rochester, MN

2 Bedroom

$1,164

$1,243

+7% in Rochester, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,338

$1,646

+23% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$243,500

$287,500

+18% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income

$55,653

$87,767

+58% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,430

$60,620

+31% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

36.4 yr

+7.7 yr in Rochester, MN

Homeownership

47.3%

65.4%

+18.1 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.1%

50.1%

+4.0 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

17.4 min

17.2 min

+0.2 min in Columbia, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

769.9

158.9

+79% in Columbia, SC

Property Crime

3,265.1

1,379

+58% 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

45.4°F

+19.5°F in Columbia, SC

Annual Precipitation

45.4 in

33.0 in

+12.4 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.96/gal

+0% in Rochester, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.6

17.5

+13% in Rochester, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.07

$14.79

+49% in Columbia, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rochester, MN

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Columbia, SC

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Rochester, MN

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Rochester, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / MN)

6.875%

+0.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

9.85%

+3.8 pp in MN

Columbia vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Rochester?: Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Rochester, MN's $1,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Rochester?: Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).