Status Quote

2026 Edition · Prices 2024 · Rents FY2026 · Wages May 2025 · Federal pay 2026

City entry · SC

Columbia, SC

Columbia, SC metropolitan statistical area

At a glance

Population1
879,918
Size rank among U.S. metros
71 of 387
Price level, U.S. = 1002
93.7
$100,000 here, at U.S.-average prices2
$106,767
Typical 1-bedroom rent3
$1,164/mo
Take-home on $100,000 (estimate)14,15,8
$74,337
Rent burden on $100,000
19%
Median pay, all jobs4
$46,430
Federal locality pay area7
Rest of U.S.
GS-13 step 15
$106,437

Rent area: Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area.

What costs more or less

Price level (U.S. = 100)
Housing (rent)79.5
Goods96.3
Utilities88.3
Other services98.3
Overall93.7
BEA Regional Price Parities2. Housing covers rents.

On the map

Columbia
Price level (U.S. = 100):Under 9292–9898–102102–108Over 108
  • Columbia, SC: price level 93.7 (cheaper)

Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.

Where money goes further

  1. Shreveport, LA prices 9.5% lower
  2. McAllen, TX prices 8.3% lower
  3. Brownsville, TX prices 8.2% lower
  4. Kingsport, TN prices 7.7% lower
  5. Lafayette, LA prices 6.9% lower

Where it goes less far

  1. San Francisco, CA prices 23.4% higher
  2. Miami, FL prices 21.9% higher
  3. Los Angeles, CA prices 21.3% higher
  4. New York, NY prices 20.2% higher
  5. San Diego, CA prices 19.5% higher

Compare Columbia, SC with

Notes & Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau, Metropolitan Statistical Area population estimates (Vintage 2025) (2025). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by MSA (MARPP), all items (2024). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  3. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents, 1-bedroom (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  4. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, metropolitan areas (2025). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  5. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, General Schedule (GS) pay rates with locality pay, 2026 (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  6. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Locality codes used in the 2026 GS pay spreadsheet (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  7. U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 2026 Locality Pay Area Definitions (counties in each pay area) (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  8. Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026 (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  9. U.S. Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file: states, 1:20,000,000 (2024) (2024). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  10. U.S. Census Bureau, Gazetteer file: core based statistical areas (2025) (2025). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  11. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, table C24010 (occupation of employed residents) by ZIP code area (2024). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  12. U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Tabulation Area relationship files (2020; Connecticut 2022) and Gazetteer locations (2025) (2025). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  13. U.S. Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary files (ZIP code areas 2020; counties and states 2024) and TIGER/Line primary roads (2024) (2024). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  14. Internal Revenue Service, Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 tax brackets and standard deduction) (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.
  15. Internal Revenue Service, Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide for 2026 (Social Security and Medicare) (2026). Retrieved 2026-09-29.