Cost of Living in Columbia, KY - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,168 (excluding rent), and $2,566 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,548 (excluding rent), and $4,958 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.04 $19.04

$12.02 $12.02

$35.3 $35.3

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$73.6 $73.6

$49.09 $49.09

$123 $123

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.12 $11.12

$10.06 $10.06

$14.16 $14.16

Cappuccino

$4.97 $4.97

$3.42 $3.42

$7.81 $7.81

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.02 $2.02

$4.04 $4.04

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.52 $1.52

$3.05 $3.05

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 $6.17

$4.11 $4.11

$8.74 $8.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.02 $7.02

$5.01 $5.01

$10.02 $10.02

Milk (1 liter)

$1 $1

$0.75 $0.75

$1.42 $1.42

White Bread (500g)

$3.6 $3.6

$2.21 $2.21

$5.66 $5.66

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$2.14 $2.14

$8.82 $8.82

Eggs

$4.09 $4.09

$1.95 $1.95

$6.82 $6.82

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.15 $12.15

$6.94 $6.94

$21.85 $21.85

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.71 $11.71

$6.24 $6.24

$20.21 $20.21

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.7 $15.7

$10.09 $10.09

$24.67 $24.67

Apples (1kg)

$5 $5

$2.61 $2.61

$8.98 $8.98

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.13 $1.13

$4.27 $4.27

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$2.21 $2.21

$8.84 $8.84

Tomato (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$2.18 $2.18

$8.74 $8.74

Potato (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$1.31 $1.31

$6.09 $6.09

Onion (1kg)

$2.76 $2.76

$1.78 $1.78

$4.29 $4.29

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.36 $1.36

$2.94 $2.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.21 $1.21

$3.29 $3.29

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.54 $9.54

$7.95 $7.95

$11.93 $11.93

Wine (Bottle)

$12.63 $12.63

$7.94 $7.94

$19.4 $19.4

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.75 $1.75

$2.9 $2.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$1.65 $1.65

$6.17 $6.17

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.26 $1.26

$2.02 $2.02

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 $3.42

$2.93 $2.93

$4.89 $4.89

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.6 $1.6

$1.53 $1.53

$2.14 $2.14

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.93 $28.93

$26.17 $26.17

$34.69 $34.69

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.75 $0.75

$1 $1

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.1K $29.1K

$23.3K $23.3K

$35.4K $35.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.4K $25.4K

$24.8K $24.8K

$26.8K $26.8K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$191 $191

$122 $122

$349 $349

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$53.5 $53.5

$30.37 $30.37

$101 $101

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68 $68

$50.1 $50.1

$100 $100

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.18 $43.18

$17.57 $17.57

$50.2 $50.2

Cinema Ticket

$13.28 $13.28

$10.82 $10.82

$17.71 $17.71

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,320 $1,320

$1,017 $1,017

$1,879 $1,879

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.2K $23.2K

$16.6K $16.6K

$26.9K $26.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.2 $50.2

$29.48 $29.48

$78.6 $78.6

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.22 $39.22

$24.51 $24.51

$63.7 $63.7

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86 $86

$59.5 $59.5

$129 $129

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 $110

$63.1 $63.1

$197 $197

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,600 $1,600

$1,198 $1,198

$1,855 $1,855

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,348 $1,348

$996 $996

$1,494 $1,494

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,586 $2,586

$1,967 $1,967

$2,950 $2,950

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,220 $2,220

$1,698 $1,698

$2,498 $2,498

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,661 $2,661

$1,952 $1,952

$2,661 $2,661

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,632 $2,632

$2,150 $2,150

$2,632 $2,632

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.19

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: November 29, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

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Cost of Living in Columbia, KY - Frequently Asked Questions

Columbia sits in the sweet spot of affordability for a small-town setting. The Cost of Living in Columbia, KY, United States tends to be gentler on housing and everyday essentials than major metro areas, which helps you stretch a budget without sacrificing basics. You'll find value in longer-term stays, neighborhood variety, and the ability to choose between a modest apartment or a small house. Local dining and services are accessible, while specialty shopping may require a short drive. Weather and tourism bring occasional price quirks, but overall the pace keeps costs predictable. Tip: Prioritize a flexible home base and balance work spaces with leisure spots.

Daily life centers on a walkable town core and nearby rural charms. Housing search tends to favor smaller homes or apartments with reasonable rents; look for neighborhoods close to groceries and banks. You'll find a mix of locally sourced produce at farmers markets and reliable chain options for groceries. Transportation is car-reliant for most trips, though you can rely on bikes for short hops. For errands and coworking, expect a handful of cafes and a few shared workspaces or libraries. Columbia, KY, United States living cost informs how you pace purchases, plan meals, and gauge commuting time. Tip: Map out your weekly routes to save time and fuel.

Quality of life in Columbia hinges on choosing a neighborhood that matches your pace. For budgeting, use a simple framework: classify spending into housing, groceries, transport, and leisure, then adjust as seasons shift. Winter brings higher heating or energy use, summer hikes and outdoor markets; plan accordingly. To maximize value, line up areas with easy access to services and coffee shops, co-working spots, and parks. Build a buffer for occasional trips to larger towns, especially for medical or specialist shopping. Seasonality affects events and crowds, which you can leverage for affordable options or for social connections. Tip: schedule a monthly review of recurring costs and rotate between low-cost and higher-value activities to maintain balance.