Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 46% higher in Seattle, WA. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Columbus, OH
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$1,638
+62% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$1,858
+75% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$2,359
+85% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$2,918
+113% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$912,100
+289% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$121,984
+87% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$72,610
+41% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
35.5 yr
+2.5 yr in Seattle, WA
Homeownership
44.3%
44.2%
+0.1 pp in Columbus, OH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
67.5%
+29.3 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
21.8 min
26.6 min
+4.8 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.2
788.6
+63% in Seattle, WA
Property Crime
3,093.9
5,108.8
+65% in Seattle, WA

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
53.5°F
+0.8°F in Seattle, WA
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
37.7 in
+2.4 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$5.31/gal
+27% in Seattle, WA

Area: Ohio vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.75
+38% in Seattle, WA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
14.9
+23% in Columbus, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$20.41
+11% in Columbus, OH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Seattle, WA
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Seattle, WA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Columbus, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Seattle, WA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Columbus, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Seattle, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / WA)
5.75%
6.5%
+0.8 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
None
+2.8 pp in OH

Columbus vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Seattle?
Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Seattle?
Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).