Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $1,090 in Huntsville, AL. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $70,778 in Huntsville, AL — about 8% higher in Huntsville, AL. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Columbus, OH
Huntsville, AL

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$815
+20% in Columbus, OH
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$900
+15% in Columbus, OH
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$1,080
+15% in Columbus, OH
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$1,251
+9% in Columbus, OH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$263,100
+12% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$70,778
+8% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$51,740
+1% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
36.4 yr
+3.4 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
44.3%
58.1%
+13.8 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
46.2%
+8.0 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
21.8 min
19.3 min
+2.5 min in Columbus, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.2
483.2
+0% in Columbus, OH
Property Crime
3,093.9
2,395.7
+23% in Columbus, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
62.1°F
+9.4°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
54.3 in
+14.2 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.80/gal
$3.62/gal
+5% in Columbus, OH

Area: Ohio vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

Adult base one-way fare — COTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.2
16.4
+15% in Columbus, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$24.06
+5% in Huntsville, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Columbus, OH
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Huntsville, AL
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Columbus, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Columbus, OH
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Columbus, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / AL)
5.75%
4%
+1.8 pp in OH
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
5.00%
+2.3 pp in AL

Columbus vs Huntsville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Huntsville?
Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Huntsville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $36,000 in Huntsville.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Huntsville?
Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Huntsville under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).