Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Worcester?

Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Worcester?

Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Columbia vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/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 $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 18% higher in Worcester, MA. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Columbia, SC

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$802

$1,087

+36% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,026

$1,028

+0% in Worcester, MA

2 Bedroom

$1,164

$1,476

+27% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,338

$1,675

+25% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$243,500

$339,500

+39% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$55,653

$67,544

+21% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,430

$57,830

+25% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

34.1 yr

+5.4 yr in Worcester, MA

Homeownership

47.3%

42.4%

+4.9 pp in Columbia, SC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.1%

34.1%

+12.0 pp in Columbia, SC

Avg Commute

17.4 min

25.1 min

+7.7 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

769.9

640.2

+17% in Columbia, SC

Property Crime

3,265.1

1,580.3

+52% 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

47.9°F

+17.0°F in Columbia, SC

Annual Precipitation

45.4 in

48.1 in

+2.7 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.07/gal

+3% in Worcester, MA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.6

29.6

+90% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.07

$30.66

+5% in Worcester, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Worcester, MA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Worcester, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Columbia, SC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Worcester, MA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Worcester, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Worcester, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / MA)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

9.00%

+3.0 pp in MA

Columbia vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Worcester?: Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Worcester?: Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).