Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Richmond, VA. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Richmond, VA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $62,671 in Richmond, VA — about 4% higher in Columbus, OH. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Columbus, OH
Richmond, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$1,183
+17% in Richmond, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$1,195
+13% in Richmond, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$1,374
+8% in Richmond, VA
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$1,447
+6% in Richmond, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$328,100
+40% in Richmond, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$62,671
+4% in Columbus, OH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$51,460
+0% in Richmond, VA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
34.5 yr
+1.5 yr in Richmond, VA
Homeownership
44.3%
43.5%
+0.8 pp in Columbus, OH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
44.1%
+5.9 pp in Richmond, VA
Avg Commute
21.8 min
22.1 min
+0.3 min in Richmond, VA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.2
349
+28% in Columbus, OH
Property Crime
3,093.9
3,240.2
+5% in Richmond, VA

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
58.9°F
+6.2°F in Richmond, VA
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
43.6 in
+3.5 in in Richmond, VA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$3.86/gal
+8% in Columbus, OH

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
17.6
+10% in Columbus, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$23.66
+4% in Richmond, VA

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 Richmond, VA
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 / VA)
5.75%
5.3%
+0.5 pp in OH
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
5.75%
+3.0 pp in VA

Columbus vs Richmond — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Richmond?
Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Richmond, VA's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Richmond?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $48,000 in Richmond.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Richmond?
Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Richmond under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).