Home › OH › Columbus, OH Cost of living in Columbus, OH Livability score 68 · cost-of-living index 94.6 (US = 100)
How Columbus compares Where Columbus 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): 95 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 95 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $334k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $334k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $202 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $202 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.2% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.2% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.46% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.46% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 300 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 300 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 19.5 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 19.5 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 85° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 85° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 20° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 20° Map of Columbus 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) 94.6 metro-area #88 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 94.1 metro-area #37 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.38 metro-area #88 of 200 Median household income $76,541 metro-area #73 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $44,805 metro-area #46 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 36.6 years metro-area #47 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 39.4% metro-area #44 of 200 Foreign-born residents 9.5% metro-area #76 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 61.3% metro-area #164 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 4.20% metro-area #34 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +5.6% metro-area #70 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $333,537 metro-area #94 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.4× metro-area #75 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +1.2% metro-area #106 of 200 Price per square foot $202 metro-area #118 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,650 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,524 metro-area #84 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 5,572 Median days on market 5 metro-area #1 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.0% state #97 of 200 Combined sales tax 7.24% state #91 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 3.90% Capital gains tax 3.50% state #62 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 1.46% metro-area #143 of 200 Median property tax paid $3,677 metro-area #145 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 76.2 years metro-area #115 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,400 state #32 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 7.2% metro-area #74 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 90 metro-area #39 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $10,000 state #58 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $100 state #83 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 14 Avg commute to work 24 min metro-area #92 of 200 Commute by driving alone 72.4% metro-area #66 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 31.6% metro-area #99 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 19.5¢/kWh state #130 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $175 state #130 of 200 Gasoline $3.25/gal state #83 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $78 state #139 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $104 state #101 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $76 state #20 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,300 state #22 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,300 state #9 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 84.9 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #66 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $600 state #16 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 54 metro-area #168 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 800 metro-area #49 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 94% state #64 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 5,700 metro-area #141 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 15 metro-area #69 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F -778 metro-area #1 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 85°F metro-area #59 of 200 Avg winter low 20°F metro-area #147 of 200 Annual precipitation 41.6" metro-area #94 of 200 Annual snowfall 28.2" metro-area #141 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 50% metro-area #175 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6a Frost window 04-30 → 10-15
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 300 state #28 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,800 state #52 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 89 metro-area #88 of 200 Parks 69 Hiking areas 11 Golf courses 22 Shooting ranges 8 Lakes 12
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 Columbus Major public and private employers in the Columbus, OH area.
Salaries by occupation in Columbus Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $142,420 Marketing Managers $136,120 Pharmacists $134,060 Financial Managers $131,320 Physician Assistants $129,150 Human Resources Managers $126,590 Lawyers $123,540 Software Developers $114,330 Physical Therapists $99,600 General & Operations Managers $99,500 Construction Managers $98,430 Mechanical Engineers $95,620 Data Scientists $94,390 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $86,640 Civil Engineers $83,200 Web Developers $83,160 Registered Nurses $81,020 Dental Hygienists $80,700 Elementary School Teachers $80,450 Accountants & Auditors $78,830 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $65,060 Electricians $62,960 Graphic Designers $60,060 Carpenters $58,650 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,860 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $48,760 Real Estate Sales Agents $41,460 Medical Assistants $39,170
Cities in the Columbus area Columbus (902,449) → Newark (50,062) → Dublin (48,893) → Delaware (41,926) → Grove City (41,423) → Reynoldsburg (40,926) → Lancaster (40,616) → Westerville (38,911) → Upper Arlington (36,500) → Hilliard (36,103) → Gahanna (35,529) → Marysville (25,806) → Pickerington (23,229) → Whitehall (20,035) → Pataskala (17,843) → Worthington (14,997) → Powell (14,113) → Circleville (14,017) → Bexley (13,537) → New Albany (10,516) → Heath (10,492) → London (10,316) →
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.
