Cost of living in Columbia, MO
219,062 people (Census 2025 estimate). Overall prices are 10.6% below the US average, with housing at 69.2 on BEA’s index (US = 100). A single renter on $60,000 keeps $1,546 a month after 2026 taxes and modeled costs.
Typical household budgets in Columbia, MO
Computed by MoveMath’s engine with 2026 tax law, HUD Fair Market Rent for the bedrooms each household needs, no childcare (DOL publishes no childcare prices for this metro’s principal county — see below), USDA Moderate-Cost food, one car per adult and $1,000 a month of other spending at US-average prices scaled by local price levels.
Childcare is not included in these budgets: DOL’s National Database of Childcare Prices has no price for Boone County, MO in any year from 2018 to 2022 (most Missouri counties have no NDCP prices for those years). The family’s budget would be higher by the cost of care.
| Per month | Single, $60k | Couple + toddler, $110k | Family of four, $72,340 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,000 | $9,167 | $6,028 |
| Taxes | $955 | $1,543 | $603 |
| Take-home pay | $4,045 | $7,624 | $5,425 |
| Housing | $959 | $1,076 | $1,076 |
| Food | $415 | $931 | $1,208 |
| Transportation | $164 | $329 | $329 |
| Sales tax | $25 | $31 | $35 |
| Other goods & services | $936 | $936 | $936 |
| Left over | $1,546 | $4,321 | $1,841 |
Family of four = two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child at the metro’s median household income ($72,340). Click a column to open it in the budget planner and change any input.
Price levels: Columbia, MO vs Missouri and the US
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. 100 = US average; bars compare the metro (dark) with Missouri statewide (light).
Within Missouri, Columbia, MO ranks 3rd of 8 metros on overall prices; the state as a whole is at 90.8. The dashed line marks the US average.
Rent and homeownership
| Unit | HUD Fair Market Rent | Income needed at 30% | Share of median income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $749 | $29,960 | 12.4% |
| 1-bedroom | $959 | $38,360 | 15.9% |
| 2-bedroom | $1,076 | $43,040 | 17.8% |
| 3-bedroom | $1,459 | $58,360 | 24.2% |
| 4-bedroom | $1,676 | $67,040 | 27.8% |
FY2027 FMRs for Columbia, MO HUD Metro FMR Area: 40th-percentile gross rent (rent + tenant-paid utilities) for standard-quality units. Census median gross rent, all unit sizes: $1,070 (ACS 2020-2024).
Childcare prices in Boone County, MO
No childcare prices: DOL’s National Database of Childcare Prices has no price for Boone County, MO in any year from 2018 to 2022 (most Missouri counties have no NDCP prices for those years). Childcare is left out of the budgets on this page (not counted as $0 cost) rather than estimated.
Taxes: what you keep in Columbia
| Single filer, 2026 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 |
| Missouri income tax | $1,368 | $2,534 | $4,661 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,416 | $4,922 | $7,382 |
| Share of pay to taxes | 18.0% | 21.3% | 26.2% |
No mandatory local income tax for residents of Columbia in our data. State sales tax: 4.225% (state rate only; local rates add on), groceries 1.225%.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05. Renters’ utilities are already inside gross rent.
Nearby metros
| Metro | Distance | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Single $60k left over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, MO | — | 89.4 | $1,076 | $1,546 |
| Jefferson City, MO · compare | 27 mi | 88.0 | $962 | $1,770 (+$224) |
| St. Louis, MO-IL · compare | 114 mi | 95.1 | $1,349 | $1,267 (−$279) |
| Kansas City, MO-KS · compare | 120 mi | 92.5 | $1,546 | $1,088 (−$458) |
| Springfield, MO · compare | 132 mi | 88.6 | $1,113 | $1,592 (+$46) |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS · compare | 145 mi | 86.4 | $1,101 | $1,648 (+$102) |
| Springfield, IL · compare | 155 mi | 92.7 | $1,237 | $1,414 (−$131) |
Common moves to and from Columbia, MO
Census ACS metro-to-metro migration flows (ACS 5-year 2016-2020), people who moved in a year.
- St. Louis, MO-IL3,393
Frequently asked questions
Is Columbia, MO expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put overall prices in the Columbia, MO metro at 89.4 (US = 100) in 2024 — 10.6% below the national average and the 300th highest of 387 metros. Housing is 69.2, goods 94.2.
What salary do you need to live in Columbia, MO?+
A single renter earning $60,000 keeps $4,045 a month after 2026 taxes and has $1,546 left after rent at HUD Fair Market Rent, food, fuel, sales tax and other modeled costs. Use the cost of living calculator to find the salary that matches your current budget.
How much is rent in Columbia, MO?+
HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rent — the 40th-percentile gross rent including utilities — is $959 for a 1-bedroom and $1,076 for a 2-bedroom. The Census median gross rent for all units is $1,070.
Does Columbia have a local income tax?+
No mandatory local income tax applies to residents of Columbia in our 2026 data. Missouri state income tax does apply.