Cost of living in Columbia
compared to
Cost of living in Columbia vs. United States overall average
Columbia is 13.6% more expensive than United States overall.
Columbia Cost of Living Breakdown
Restaurants
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant | $20.00 |
$15.00
$15.00
$25.00
$25.00
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.25 |
$11.25
$11.25
$12.00
$12.00
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) | $2.42 |
$1.50
$1.50
$4.72
$4.72
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) | $2.21 |
$1.00
$1.00
$3.50
$3.50
|
Columbia - Cost of restaurants
Groceries
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.87 |
$1.10
$1.10
$4.41
$4.41
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) | $6.72 |
$3.50
$3.50
$11.02
$11.02
|
| Milk (1 gallon) | $4.38 |
$2.00
$2.00
$7.00
$7.00
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$6.45 |
$1.50
$1.50
$6.99
$6.99
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) | $4.52 |
$1.99
$1.99
$7.89
$7.89
|
| Apples (1 lb) | $3.13 |
$1.00
$1.00
$4.00
$4.00
|
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.58 |
$0.49
$0.49
$2.00
$2.00
|
| Oranges (1 lb) | $3.20 |
$0.99
$0.99
$5.00
$5.00
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $2.45 |
$1.00
$1.00
$3.50
$3.50
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $1.25 |
$0.60
$0.60
$2.50
$2.50
|
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.50 |
$0.60
$0.60
$2.00
$2.00
|
Columbia - Cost of groceries
Transportation
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | $3.29 |
$2.92
$2.92
$3.60
$3.60
|
| Monthly public transit pass | $74.00 | -- |
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | $28,250.00 |
$25,300.00
$25K
$36,328.50
$36K
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | $12.74 |
$12.74
$12.74
$22.16
$22.16
|
Columbia - Cost of transportation
Housing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$75.00 |
$40.00
$40.00
$114.00
$114.00
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | $2,100.00 |
$2,000.00
$2K
$2,200.00
$2K
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center | $1,850.00 |
$1,700.00
$2K
$2,000.00
$2K
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$140.62 |
$68.82
$68.82
$237.06
$237.06
|
Columbia - Cost of housing
Childcare
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly | $1,966.67 |
$950.00
$950.00
$2,000.00
$2K
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters | $33,360.00 |
$30,000.00
$30K
$34,200.00
$34K
|
Columbia - Cost of childcare
Entertainment and Sports
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) | $6.00 |
$4.00
$4.00
$7.00
$7.00
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area | $5.04 |
$3.50
$3.50
$6.00
$6.00
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$11.00 |
$5.00
$5.00
$11.00
$11.00
|
| Monthly membership at local gym | $50.00 | -- |
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema | $15.25 |
$13.00
$13.00
$23.00
$23.00
|
Columbia - Cost of entertainment and sports
Clothing
|
Cost
|
Range | |
|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$55.00 |
$25.00
$25.00
$80.00
$80.00
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$70.00 |
$25.00
$25.00
$80.00
$80.00
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$115.00 |
$70.00
$70.00
$145.00
$145.00
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) | $115.00 |
$60.00
$60.00
$159.00
$159.00
|
Columbia - Cost of clothing
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