Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Georgia

$1,080/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$940/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 $940 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,622 in Columbus, GA and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 19% higher in Columbus, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Columbus, GA
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$826
$760
+8% in Columbus, GA
1 Bedroom
$875
$772
+12% in Columbus, GA
2 Bedroom
$991
$926
+7% in Columbus, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,221
$1,158
+5% in Columbus, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$182,300
$165,200
+9% in Columbus, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$56,622
$45,984
+19% in Columbus, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$43,540
$45,780
+5% in Springfield, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
33.6 yr
+1.5 yr in Columbus, GA
Homeownership
50.2%
42.9%
+7.3 pp in Columbus, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
29.7%
30.3%
+0.6 pp in Springfield, MO
Avg Commute
20.2 min
18.0 min
+2.2 min in Columbus, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
612.3
1,189.8
+94% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
2,273.4
4,231.6
+86% in Springfield, MO

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
56.3°F
+9.4°F in Columbus, GA
Annual Precipitation
46.8 in
45.6 in
+1.2 in in Columbus, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Springfield, MO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
13.7
+14% in Columbus, GA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$24.13
+27% in Columbus, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Springfield, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Columbus, GA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Springfield, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Springfield, MO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Springfield, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / MO)
4%
4.225%
+0.2 pp in MO
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
4.70%
+0.5 pp in GA

Columbus vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Columbus, GA's $1,080, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Columbus versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Springfield?
Columbus is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).