Home › SC › Columbia, SC Cost of living in Columbia, SC Livability score 69 · cost-of-living index 93.2 (US = 100)
How Columbia compares Where Columbia falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 93 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 93 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $256k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $256k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $128 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $128 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.4% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.4% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.63% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.63% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 530 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 530 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 17.1 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 17.1 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 91° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 91° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 36° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 36° Map of Columbia Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 93.2 metro-area #77 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 95.9 metro-area #69 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.30 metro-area #74 of 200 Median household income $63,471 metro-area #151 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $37,617 metro-area #133 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 37.5 years metro-area #73 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 35.0% metro-area #83 of 200 Foreign-born residents 5.5% metro-area #150 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 69.2% metro-area #56 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 5.71% metro-area #138 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +2.9% metro-area #127 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $256,154 metro-area #48 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.0× metro-area #54 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +1.3% metro-area #102 of 200 Price per square foot $128 metro-area #37 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,000 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,537 metro-area #90 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 3,467 Median days on market 22 metro-area #128 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 8.9% state #27 of 200 Combined sales tax 7.44% state #103 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 6.20% Capital gains tax 6.40% state #140 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.63% metro-area #39 of 200 Median property tax paid $1,211 metro-area #20 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 75.3 years metro-area #142 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,500 state #53 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 10.1% metro-area #125 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 70 metro-area #124 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $8,500 state #19 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $40 state #4 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 2.33% of value (~$652/yr) state #186 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 2 Avg commute to work 25 min metro-area #119 of 200 Commute by driving alone 76.3% metro-area #118 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 36.0% metro-area #140 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 17.1¢/kWh state #107 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $154 state #107 of 200 Gasoline $3.05/gal state #45 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $56 state #51 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $97 state #88 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $78 state #77 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,000 state #110 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,900 state #86 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 86.5 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #76 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $900 state #152 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $350 state #149 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 47 metro-area #107 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 2,000 metro-area #138 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 95% state #27 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 2,000 metro-area #44 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 71 metro-area #154 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 4 metro-area #163 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 91°F metro-area #136 of 200 Avg winter low 36°F metro-area #71 of 200 Annual precipitation 49.5" metro-area #154 of 200 Annual snowfall 1.5" metro-area #69 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 62% metro-area #64 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 8a Frost window 03-10 → 11-20
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 530 state #180 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,900 state #173 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 46 metro-area #115 of 200 Parks 36 Hiking areas 5 Golf courses 23 Shooting ranges 3 Lakes 5
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Columbia Major public and private employers in the Columbia, SC area.
Employer Sector Jobs State of South Carolina Government Search → Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC insurance Search → Prisma Health Midlands Healthcare Search → University of South Carolina Education Search → Fort Jackson Government Careers → Lexington Medical Center Healthcare Search →
Salaries by occupation in Columbia Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Pharmacists $131,620 Dentists $131,600 Physician Assistants $118,380 Software Developers $113,190 Financial Managers $111,500 Marketing Managers $107,480 Construction Managers $98,520 Human Resources Managers $97,970 Lawyers $96,300 Physical Therapists $96,120 General & Operations Managers $89,160 Mechanical Engineers $87,200 Data Scientists $84,430 Civil Engineers $81,970 Registered Nurses $78,470 Dental Hygienists $77,740 Accountants & Auditors $62,460 Elementary School Teachers $61,370 Electricians $57,990 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $50,270 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,300 Real Estate Sales Agents $47,990 Carpenters $47,860 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $47,720 Graphic Designers $46,960 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $46,490 Medical Assistants $36,940
Cities in the Columbia area Columbia (136,754) → Lexington (23,665) → St. Andrews (21,909) → West Columbia (17,459) → Dentsville (16,399) → Seven Oaks (15,826) → Cayce (13,755) → Irmo (11,685) → Oak Grove (11,385) → Red Bank (10,544) → Forest Acres (10,514) →
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
QuiltMap LLC Affiliate disclosure: some links on this site are affiliate links —
we may earn a commission when you use them, at no extra cost to you.
Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
© 2026 SalaryCompareTool. All rights reserved.
A QuiltMap LLC company.
