Introduction:

The cost of living in Columbus varies based on the cost in question. Many costs here are close to or below the national average. However, some costs can be significantly more than the national average. In this post, I will break down some of the most important costs to know about here in the city of Columbus. 

Cost of Living in Columbus I: Cost of Healthcare

Health care costs in Columbus are about 10% less than the national average. Even more, we have three major hospital systems here in the US: The Ohio State University System, The Mount Carmel system, and Ohio Health. All three of these systems include wonderful care centers with top notch services.

Cost of Living in Columbus II: Utilities Cost

The cost of utilities in Columbus is within 1-2% of the rest of the country. We experience all 4 seasons here in Columbus. Most of the heating in Columbus is natural gas, and the cooling is electric. It’s not uncommon to spend substantial amounts on gas during the winter and similar amounts on electric during the summer. Water and sewage tends to be around the national average.

Cost of Living in Columbus III: Cost of Food

The cost of food is around the national average. We have all the big retailers like Walmart, Target, and Kroger. We also have some of the smaller retailers like Aldi, in addition to regional stores and mom & pop operations.

Cost of Living in Columbus IV: Cost of Transportation

The city of Columbus is not very walkable. Many people live within the suburbs. Unfortunately, our bus system, COTA, does not travel very deeply within the suburbs. If you want to live in the more urban areas, however, COTA will likely work quite well for you.

Cost of Living in Columbus V: Cost of Housing

Last but not least, my speciality. Housing in Columbus is, on average, 30% lower than the rest of the country. However, the full details are a bit more deep.  If you are thinking about moving to Columbus, you should first ask yourself whether you are planning on renting or purchasing.

Then, you should decide on the area and type of housing in which you would like to use. This will influence the cost of your house significantly. Renting in the “hot” part of the city, mostly in and around the downtown area, can cost upwards of $1,000 per month in rent. Renting outside of downtown, however, can cost only a few hundred per month.

When it comes to buying, the prices also vary. In many suburbs, housing can be significantly more expensive.

For example…

• Real estate in  Powell is  60% higher than the national average
• You can expect to pay 85% higher than the national average in Upper Arlington
• New Albany real estate is about 130% higher than the national average

These are just a few examples of how much costs can vary in Columbus.

In Short…

The cost of living in Columbus varies, but I did my best to break down some of the costs I believe will be the most important to you. I hope you found this blog helpful. If you’re considering moving to Columbus, its schools, or its neighborhoods, then please reach out. I will be happy to help you in any way that I can. You can also view my team’s current listings here.