salaryRent is lower than in 63% of U.S. cities. That makes it a rare mix of above-average pay and below-average rent. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Most homes (82.4%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $56,760 a year. That is $27 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Illinois cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Illinois. It is number 147 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Columbia?
Share of households by yearly income. 40.6% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Columbia
| Size | Columbia | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $837 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,224 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,674 | $1,698 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Columbia overall?
Everyday prices in Illinois overall are same as the U.S. average (index 100.0, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Columbia, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Columbia
Life in Columbia
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Columbia?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $614 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $293,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $29,300 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Columbia, IL?
Renting in Columbia costs a median of about $1,419 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Columbia?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $56,760 a year, or $27 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Columbia cheap or expensive?
Columbia is rated Cheap: rent takes 14.7% of the typical household income of $116,053. It ranks 147th cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Columbia?
The median homeowner in Columbia pays $5,356 a year in property taxes, about 1.83% of the median home value.
Is Columbia more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Illinois are same as the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Columbia?
The median home value in Columbia is $293,000, about 2.5 times the typical yearly household income.
11,127 people live in Columbia. Numbers are typical (middle) values.