Cost of living in Columbus, IN
85,729 people (Census 2025 estimate). Overall prices are 7.0% below the US average, with housing at 75.5 on BEA’s index (US = 100). A single renter on $60,000 keeps $1,112 a month after 2026 taxes and modeled costs.
Typical household budgets in Columbus, IN
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 Bartholomew County, IN in any year from 2018 to 2022 (NDCP has no county prices anywhere in Indiana 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, $79,901 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,000 | $9,167 | $6,658 |
| Taxes | $1,032 | $1,668 | $864 |
| Take-home pay | $3,968 | $7,499 | $5,795 |
| Housing | $1,276 | $1,493 | $1,493 |
| Food | $415 | $932 | $1,210 |
| Transportation | $164 | $329 | $329 |
| Sales tax | $33 | $33 | $33 |
| Other goods & services | $967 | $967 | $967 |
| Left over | $1,112 | $3,745 | $1,763 |
Family of four = two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child at the metro’s median household income ($79,901). Click a column to open it in the budget planner and change any input.
Price levels: Columbus, IN vs Indiana and the US
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. 100 = US average; bars compare the metro (dark) with Indiana statewide (light).
Within Indiana, Columbus, IN ranks 4th of 12 metros on overall prices; the state as a whole is at 93.3. The dashed line marks the US average.
Rent and homeownership
| Unit | HUD Fair Market Rent | Income needed at 30% | Share of median income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,261 | $50,440 | 18.9% |
| 1-bedroom | $1,276 | $51,040 | 19.2% |
| 2-bedroom | $1,493 | $59,720 | 22.4% |
| 3-bedroom | $1,779 | $71,160 | 26.7% |
| 4-bedroom | $2,126 | $85,040 | 31.9% |
FY2027 FMRs for Columbus, IN MSA: 40th-percentile gross rent (rent + tenant-paid utilities) for standard-quality units. Census median gross rent, all unit sizes: $1,127 (ACS 2020-2024).
Childcare prices in Bartholomew County, IN
No childcare prices: DOL’s National Database of Childcare Prices has no price for Bartholomew County, IN in any year from 2018 to 2022 (NDCP has no county prices anywhere in Indiana 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 Columbus
| 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 |
| Indiana income tax | $1,446 | $2,183 | $3,511 |
| Local income tax (Bartholomew County) | $858 | $1,295 | $2,083 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,338 | $4,843 | $7,305 |
| Share of pay to taxes | 19.9% | 22.5% | 27.0% |
Indiana county income tax for residents of Bartholomew County (the principal city’s county). State sales tax: 7% (state rate only; local rates add on), groceries exempt.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, IN | — | 93.0 | $1,493 | $1,112 |
| Bloomington, IN · compare | 33 mi | 95.1 | $1,252 | $1,273 (+$161) |
| Indianapolis, IN · compare | 41 mi | 95.7 | $1,536 | $1,039 (−$73) |
| Louisville, KY-IN · compare | 74 mi | 93.1 | $1,276 | $1,284 (+$172) |
| Muncie, IN · compare | 74 mi | 88.1 | $1,145 | $1,487 (+$375) |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN · compare | 76 mi | 95.4 | $1,442 | $1,324 (+$212) |
| Terre Haute, IN · compare | 80 mi | 87.8 | $1,164 | $1,480 (+$368) |
Frequently asked questions
Is Columbus, IN expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put overall prices in the Columbus, IN metro at 93.0 (US = 100) in 2024 — 7.0% below the national average and the 210th highest of 387 metros. Housing is 75.5, goods 94.3.
What salary do you need to live in Columbus, IN?+
A single renter earning $60,000 keeps $3,968 a month after 2026 taxes and has $1,112 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 Columbus, IN?+
HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rent — the 40th-percentile gross rent including utilities — is $1,276 for a 1-bedroom and $1,493 for a 2-bedroom. The Census median gross rent for all units is $1,127.
Does Columbus have a local income tax?+
Indiana county income tax for residents of Bartholomew County (the principal city’s county). On $75,000 a single filer would owe about $1,295 a year in local tax under our 2026 data.