Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Georgia

$1,080/mo est.

vs
Norman

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,080 in Columbus, GA versus $1,030 in Norman, OK. Overall, Norman, OK is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, GA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $56,622 in Columbus, GA and $65,060 in Norman, OK — about 13% higher in Norman, OK. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Columbus, GA
Norman, OK

Rent

Studio
$826
$820
+1% in Columbus, GA
1 Bedroom
$875
$863
+1% in Columbus, GA
2 Bedroom
$991
$1,056
+7% in Norman, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,221
$1,377
+13% in Norman, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$182,300
$239,300
+31% in Norman, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$56,622
$65,060
+15% in Norman, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$43,540
$47,230
+8% in Norman, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
31.6 yr
+3.5 yr in Columbus, GA
Homeownership
50.2%
52.7%
+2.5 pp in Norman, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.7%
46.2%
+16.5 pp in Norman, OK
Avg Commute
20.2 min
22.2 min
+2.0 min in Norman, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
612.3
268.6
+56% in Columbus, GA
Property Crime
2,273.4
2,294.1
+1% in Norman, OK

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.7°F
61.5°F
+4.2°F in Columbus, GA
Annual Precipitation
46.8 in
36.5 in
+10.2 in in Columbus, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Norman, OK

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
13.4
+16% in Columbus, GA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$27.15
+18% in Columbus, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / OK)
4%
4.5%
+0.5 pp in OK
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
4.50%
+0.7 pp in GA

Columbus vs Norman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Norman?
Norman, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Columbus, GA's $1,080, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Norman?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Columbus versus $35,000 in Norman.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Norman?
Columbus is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Norman under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).