States › Minnesota › Columbia Heights

Is Columbia Heights, MN expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 27 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,8033% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$79,476about $6,623/month · 9% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$277,60017% lower than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 58% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.5 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $72,120 a year. That is $35 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Minnesota cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Minnesota. It is number 105 of 150 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Columbia Heights
$1,803
Hastings
$1,274
Lino Lakes
$2,479
Otsego
$1,952
Crystal
$1,491
Golden Valley
$1,774
New Brighton
$1,569

How much do households earn in Columbia Heights?

Under $25k
15.5%
$25k–50k
18.4%
$50k–100k
33.8%
$100k–150k
17.1%
$150k+
8.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 25.6% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Columbia Heights

SizeColumbia HeightsU.S. average
Studio$940$1,338
1 bedroom$1,203$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,498$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,985$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,426$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Columbia Heights overall?

Everyday prices in Minnesota overall are 1% below the U.S. average (index 98.6, U.S. = 100).

Housing
91
Goods (food, clothes…)
101
Utilities
91
Other services
100
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Columbia Heights, so the Minnesota figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Columbia Heights

🏛️ Property tax$3,003a year · 1.08% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$92a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Columbia Heights

Commute to work23.6 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree32.5%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home65.9%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line16.3%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment5.5%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Columbia Heights?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $123 a month less.

Renting
$1,803
Owning
$1,926

Owning assumes a typical $277,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $27,760 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Columbia Heights, MN?

Renting in Columbia Heights costs a median of about $1,803 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Minnesota median is $1,525.

How much do I need to make to live in Columbia Heights?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $72,120 a year, or $35 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Columbia Heights cheap or expensive?

Columbia Heights is rated OK: rent takes 27.2% of the typical household income of $79,476. It ranks 105th cheapest of 150 Minnesota cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Columbia Heights?

The median homeowner in Columbia Heights pays $3,003 a year in property taxes, about 1.08% of the median home value.

Is Columbia Heights more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Minnesota are 1% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Columbia Heights?

The median home value in Columbia Heights is $277,600, about 3.5 times the typical yearly household income.

22,155 people live in Columbia Heights. Numbers are typical (middle) values.