Cost of living in Columbia
compared to
#142
City Cost of Living Rank
Index: 57 (New York City = 100)
Cost of living in Columbia vs. United States overall average
Columbia is 18.3% cheaper than United States overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 6.8% less in Columbia
- Groceries
-
pay 20.1% less in Columbia
- Transportation
-
pay 12.3% less in Columbia
- Housing
-
pay 25.9% less in Columbia
- Childcare
-
pay 28.5% less in Columbia
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 20.7% less in Columbia
- Clothing
-
pay 13.5% less in Columbia
Expenses including childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, groceries, clothing, and transportation are lower in Columbia.
Columbia Cost of Living Breakdown
Restaurants
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant | $17.00 |
$12.00
$12.00
$20.00
$20.00
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.00 |
$8.50
$8.50
$14.00
$14.00
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) | $2.45 |
$2.00
$2.00
$3.00
$3.00
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) | $2.00 |
$2.00
$2.00
$2.00
$2.00
|
Columbia - Cost of restaurants
Groceries
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.40 |
$1.86
$1.86
$7.72
$7.72
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) | $5.37 |
$3.08
$3.08
$13.23
$13.23
|
| Milk (1 gallon) | $4.34 |
$3.40
$3.40
$5.00
$5.00
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.97 |
$1.50
$1.50
$4.67
$4.67
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) | $4.08 |
$2.20
$2.20
$8.98
$8.98
|
| Apples (1 lb) | $1.88 |
$1.16
$1.16
$3.50
$3.50
|
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.59 |
$0.44
$0.44
$2.00
$2.00
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | $1.36 |
$0.60
$0.60
$3.00
$3.00
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $1.99 |
$1.00
$1.00
$7.00
$7.00
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $0.70 |
$0.40
$0.40
$1.50
$1.50
|
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.16 |
$0.70
$0.70
$1.99
$1.99
|
Columbia - Cost of groceries
Transportation
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | $2.89 |
$2.69
$2.69
$3.20
$3.20
|
| Monthly public transit pass | ?? | -- |
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | $37,111.37 |
$30,000.00
$30K
$37,222.74
$37K
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | $11.20 |
$10.45
$10.45
$27.37
$27.37
|
Columbia - Cost of transportation
Housing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$59.80 |
$50.00
$50.00
$90.00
$90.00
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | $1,025.00 |
$800.00
$800.00
$1,500.00
$2K
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center | $783.33 |
$650.00
$650.00
$1,000.00
$1K
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$139.63 |
$97.76
$97.76
$295.94
$295.94
|
Columbia - Cost of housing
Childcare
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly | $1,200.00 |
$1,200.00
$1K
$1,200.00
$1K
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters | $13,100.00 |
$11,100.00
$11K
$15,000.00
$15K
|
Columbia - Cost of childcare
Entertainment and Sports
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) | $4.50 |
$3.00
$3.00
$7.50
$7.50
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area | $4.60 |
$3.00
$3.00
$6.00
$6.00
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.00 |
$6.50
$6.50
$9.38
$9.38
|
| Monthly membership at local gym | $27.22 |
$20.00
$20.00
$33.33
$33.33
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema | $14.50 |
$9.00
$9.00
$18.00
$18.00
|
Columbia - Cost of entertainment and sports
Clothing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.00 |
$25.00
$25.00
$125.00
$125.00
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$33.33 |
$20.00
$20.00
$45.00
$45.00
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$79.17 |
$50.00
$50.00
$120.00
$120.00
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | $87.50 |
$60.00
$60.00
$150.00
$150.00
|
Columbia - Cost of clothing
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