City profile
Columbus, OH cost of living
OH · BLS RPP 94
Overall RPP
94
US = 100
Housing RPP
87.6
Housing component
Goods RPP
92.1
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$1,302/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Columbus, OH sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#48 of 67
-6.0 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
-4.4
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#48 of 67
-304/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Columbus, OH
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Columbus, OH metro.
Moved in
100,024
people · 58,935 households
Moved out
102,985
people · 60,510 households
Net
−2,961
net loss of residents
Net migration rank
#39 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
-2,857
median -104 people
Largest flow share
2% in / 1% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Cuyahoga County, OH 1,595
- Montgomery County, OH 1,156
- Muskingum County, OH 1,062
- Hamilton County, OH 949
- Knox County, OH 914
Where residents moved to
- Cuyahoga County, OH 1,333
- Muskingum County, OH 1,264
- Knox County, OH 1,229
- Marion County, OH 1,109
- Hamilton County, OH 1,012
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Columbus, OH?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Columbus, OH | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $47,000 | $50,000 x (94/100) |
| $75,000 | $70,500 | $75,000 x (94/100) |
| $100,000 | $94,000 | $100,000 x (94/100) |
| $125,000 | $117,500 | $125,000 x (94/100) |
| $150,000 | $141,000 | $150,000 x (94/100) |
| $200,000 | $188,000 | $200,000 x (94/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
Ohio income tax 0%-3.75%. Columbus city income tax 2.5%.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Columbus, OH?
- Columbus, OH has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 94 (US average = 100). It is 6.0% less expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Columbus, OH?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $94,000 in Columbus, OH to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Columbus, OH?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Columbus, OH is approximately $1,302 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Columbus, OH?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 100,024 people moved into the Columbus, OH metro and 102,985 moved out — a net loss of roughly 2,961 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Cuyahoga County, OH.
Curated nearby & similar cities
Similar verified metros by RPP
These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to Columbus, OH, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
Curated cost-of-living comparisons for Columbus, OH
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