Cost of Living in Columbia, South Carolina
In Columbia, the median household income is $55,529 and the median gross rent is $1,204/mo, with a median home value of $264,300. Source: Census Bureau ACS, 2020-2024 estimates.
- Median household income
- $55,529
- Median gross rent
- $1,204/mo
- Median home value
- $264,300
- Population
- 139,643
How Columbia compares to the South Carolina average
| Measure | Columbia, SC | South Carolina statewide | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $55,529 | $69,324 | -19.9% |
| Median gross rent (monthly) | $1,204 | $1,180 | +2.0% |
| Median home value | $264,300 | $259,000 | +2.0% |
Statewide, South Carolina prices average 93.7 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (2024), where the U.S. average is 100.
Housing affordability in Columbia
- Salary needed for median rent
- $48,160
- Rent burden at median income
- 26.0%
- Est. affordable home price
- $202,566
So that $1,204/mo is 30% of gross income
Share of the median household income spent on median rent (30%+ = cost-burdened)
At median income, 6.67% 30-yr rate (FRED, 2026-08), 20% down, 28% front-end DTI
The median home value in Columbia is $264,300 — +30.5% above what the median household income supports under these assumptions.
Estimates from documented formulas — see methodology. Not financial advice.
Cost of living in other South Carolina cities
About this data
- American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates — data period 2020-2024, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Regional Price Parities — data period 2024, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Federal Reserve Economic Data — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 13, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.