City comparison
Columbia, SC vs Columbus, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Columbus, OH are 1.9% higher than in Columbia, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Columbia, SC would need about $101,900 in Columbus, OH to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,164 a month in Columbia, SC and $1,194 in Columbus, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,875 a year higher in Columbia, SC than in Columbus, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.3% moving from Columbia, SC to Columbus, OH ($106,437 → $111,065), while prices change by +1.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.4% in real buying power.
- Columbia, SC: price level 93.7 (cheaper)
- Columbus, OH: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Columbia, SC | Columbus, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.7 | 95.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,929 in Columbus | $98,107 in Columbia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,164/mo | $1,194/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,430 | $51,340 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH |
Rent areas: Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Columbus, OH HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Columbia, SC and Columbus, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Columbia | Columbus |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 79.5 | 87.9 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 88.3 | 95.5 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 93.7 | 95.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Columbia, SC → Columbus, OH
Roughly even
Buying power −1.9%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$2,875/yr.
63 Fair offer
Columbus, OH → Columbia, SC
Roughly even
Buying power +1.9%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$2,875/yr.
75 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Columbia, SC is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Columbus, OH is in Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH. The last column shows what a transfer from Columbia, SC to Columbus, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Columbia, SC | Columbus, OH | Real change, Columbia → Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,406 | +2.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,926 | +2.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,400 | +2.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,065 | +2.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,245 | +2.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Columbia, SC | Columbus, OH | Columbus pay in Columbia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,050 | $78,150 | $76,671 (+27.7%) |
| Software Developers | $123,380 | $122,340 | $120,024 (−2.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $69,210 | $81,700 | $80,154 (+15.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,920 | $83,900 | $82,312 (+0.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.