Cost of living in Columbia, South Carolina
Overall living costs in Columbia, South Carolina fall 6.3% under the US average. For 2024, the RPP from BEA for Columbia, SC metro area puts it at 93.7 (US = 100), with housing alone at 79.5.
- Level of prices
- 93.7US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- 79.5. Rent, US = 100.
Cost of living index for Columbia, South Carolina
By comparing one place with the US average of 100, a regional price parity tracks the cost of an identical basket of goods and services. BEA prices the whole Columbia, SC metro area together, and Columbia, South Carolina sits inside it. Housing (rents) is the item that differs most from the US average, standing at 79.5, or 20.5% below the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Columbia, SC metro | South Carolina | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.7 | 93.7 | −6.3% |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.3 | −3.7% |
| Housing (rents) | 79.5 | 80.5 | −20.5% |
| Utilities | 88.3 | 88.3 | −11.7% |
| Other services | 98.3 | 98.3 | −1.7% |
Metro areas and states, 2024: regional price parities from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (U.S.). BEA regional price parities
Rents in Columbia, South Carolina
Rents now listed in Columbia, South Carolina come to a typical asking rent of $1,500 a month. The Zillow Observed Rent Index, called ZORI, tracks listed homes and is +2.8% on a year. In the US, it is $1,932. Census median gross rent is $1,249, and it counts every renting household, not only new leases. Twelve months of asking rent works out to 33% of the median household income.
| Rent | Columbia, South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $1,500 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +2.8% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,249 | $1,487 |
| One year of asking rent, as a share of median income | 33% | 28% |
one-year estimates from Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024, plus Zillow Observed Rent Index.
Prices of homes in Columbia, South Carolina
In September 2026, Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) valued a typical home in Columbia, South Carolina at $227,148. That index measures the value of a mid-market home. That is +0.9% on a year, compared with $366,157 for the US. That is 4.1 years of median household income, compared with 4.5 for the US.
| Home prices | Columbia, South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $227,148 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | +0.9% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +85.7% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 4.1 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 12.6 | 15.8 |
Days on market, the forecast and a price chart going back to 2000: Columbia, South Carolina housing market.
What salary you need to live in Columbia, South Carolina
The salary in Columbia, South Carolina that keeps your current buying power rests on two things: the place you live and the amount you earn.
- Moving away from
- Salary
All cities plus the method side by side: cost of living by city.
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Cost of living in Columbia, South Carolina compared with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | Typical rent figure | Value of a typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, South Carolina | 93.7 | 79.5 | $1,500 | $227,148 |
| Charleston, SC | 101.0 | 119.8 | $2,288 | $587,511 |
| Greenville | 93.3 | 76.8 | $1,564 | $328,460 |
| Myrtle Beach | 93.6 | 83.1 | $1,697 | $323,033 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
| Phoenix | 103.3 | 121.2 | $1,571 | $404,067 |
Price levels, from BEA regional price parities for 2024, where the US = 100. Rent: Zillow ZORI. Home values: Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
All cities ranked: city cost of living comparison. Each state: living costs by state.