Cost of Living in Columbia
Summary of cost of living in Columbia, SC, United States:
- The estimated monthly costs for a family of four are 3,646.1$, excluding rent (using our estimator).
- The estimated monthly costs for a single person are 1,026.3$, excluding rent.
- Columbia is 40.9% less expensive than New York (excluding rent, see our cost of living index).
- Rent in Columbia is, on average, 72.7% lower than in New York.
Restaurants |  Edit |
Range |
|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 17.50 $ | |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 60.00 $ | |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 12.00 $ | |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 4.50 $ | |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 6.00 $ | |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 4.25 $ | |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 2.52 $ | |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 1.88 $ | |
Markets | Edit |
|
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 0.86 $ | |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 2.60 $ | |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 1.49 $ | |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 4.40 $ | |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 4.27 $ | |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 5.40 $ | |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 7.54 $ | |
| Apples (1 lb) | 2.11 $ | |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 0.77 $ | |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 2.13 $ | |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 1.37 $ | |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.28 $ | |
| Onions (1 lb) | 1.06 $ | |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 1.97 $ | |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 1.85 $ | |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 15.00 $ | |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 1.97 $ | |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 2.69 $ | |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 8.50 $ | |
Transportation | Edit |
|
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 2.00 $ | |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 40.00 $ | |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 2.00 $ | |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 2.50 $ | |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 18.00 $ | |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 0.76 $ | |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 35,112.00 $ | |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 25,106.90 $ | |
Utilities (Monthly) | Edit |
|
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 221.77 $ | |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 54.39 $ | |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 61.00 $ | |
Sports And Leisure | Edit |
|
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 40.00 $ | |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 7.00 $ | |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 15.00 $ | |
Childcare | Edit |
|
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 1,450.00 $ | |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 22,500.00 $ | |
Clothing And Shoes | Edit |
|
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 54.33 $ | |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 35.00 $ | |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 79.20 $ | |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 113.75 $ | |
Rent Per Month | Edit |
|
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 1,297.50 $ | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 924.80 $ | |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 2,206.67 $ | |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 1,530.00 $ | |
Buy Apartment Price | Edit |
|
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 191.13 $ | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 154.20 $ | |
Salaries And Financing | Edit |
|
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 3,277.12 $ | |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.22 | |
Prices in Columbia, South Carolina
This city had 96 entries in the past 12 months by 17 different contributors.
Last update: 2 January 2026
Last update: 2 January 2026
Sources and References
Moving to Columbia, SC? Explore:
Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:
Nearby Cities:| Cost of Living in Charlotte, North Carolina | 93.04 miles |
| Cost of Living in Goose Creek, South Carolina | 99.54 miles |
| Cost of Living in Greenville, South Carolina | 104.17 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hope Mills, North Carolina | 157.49 miles |
| Cost of Living in Savannah, Georgia | 157.61 miles |
| Cost of Living in Asheville, North Carolina | 158.01 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina | 158.53 miles |
| Cost of Living in Athens, Georgia | 163.49 miles |
| Cost of Living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina | 170.45 miles |
| Cost of Living in Greensboro, North Carolina | 183.87 miles |
This Page in Other Languages:
 DeutschLebenshaltungskosten in Columbia, South Carolina
|
 PortuguêsCusto de Vida em Colúmbia
|
 ItalianoCosto della vita a Columbia
|
 FrançaisCoût de la vie à Columbia
|
 EspañolCoste de vida en Columbia
|
Salary Calculator:Got a job offer in Columbia? Estimate your take-home pay with our Salary Calculator for Columbia.
Leave a comment:1 Comments so far
Anonymous
on Aug 22, 2022:
The dollar sign goes before the number when talking about the UDS.