Cost of Living in Columbus, NC

A+
8%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
18%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Columbus North Carolina National
Cost of living9294100
Goods & Services9698100
Groceries9898100
Health care97108100
Housing8285100
Transportation9792100
Utilities9394100
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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Columbus is 2% lower than the North Carolina average
  • The cost of living in Columbus is 8% lower than the national average
  • Columbus housing is 18% lower than the national average
  • North Carolina general sales tax is 7% lower than the national average
  • North Carolina state income tax is 83% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Columbus

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Compare Columbus, NC Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

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      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$56,659$4,722$1,322$1,700
      Renters$25,321$2,110$591$760

      North Carolina Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      North Carolina 4.75% 7.5%

      North Carolina Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      North Carolina 4.75% 4.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Columbus National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.10$24.263.5%
      Beauty Salon $45.93$45.560.8%
      Toothpaste $3.67$3.700.8%
      Shampoo $1.38$1.287.8%
      Movie $12.15$12.130.1%
      Bowling $16.41$18.008.8%

      Groceries

      Item Columbus National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.46$5.846.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.67$1.576.2%
      Milk $4.58$4.671.9%
      Potatoes $5.50$4.9311.5%
      Pizza $10.64$12.0912.0%
      Beer $10.46$10.410.5%

      Health Care

      Item Columbus National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $108.14$125.6814.0%
      Doctor $131.80$135.782.9%
      Dentist $103.51$113.298.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.31$10.653.2%
      Lipitor $524.92$468.6012.0%

      Housing

      Item Columbus National avg. Difference
      Home Price $165,000.00$184,700.0010.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,758.32$2,346.6925.1%
      Apartment Rent $617.00$949.0035.0%

      Transportation

      Item Columbus National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.16$3.468.7%
      Tire Balancing $67.10$59.9212.0%

      Utilities

      Item Columbus National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $171.72$193.9911.5%
      Phone $191.25$192.250.5%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Fingerville, SC31963.7%
      Gramling, SC97963.7%
      Tigerville, SC2,023981.9%
      Flat Rock CDP, NC1,4358415.8%
      Fruitland, NC2,2168614.0%
      Columbus, NC1,240928.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Wallace, LA1,240946.0%
      Rock Island, WA1,2401055.2%
      Lamèque, NB1,240n/a 
      St-Pierre-Jolys, MB1,240n/a 
      Manning, AB1,240n/a 
      Columbus, NC1,240928.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
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