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

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $1,031 (excluding rent), and $2,560 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,546 (excluding rent), and $4,897 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.75 $21.75

$13.74 $13.74

$40.34 $40.34

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.8 $84.8

$56.6 $56.6

$141 $141

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.53 $11.53

$10.43 $10.43

$14.67 $14.67

Cappuccino

$4.86 $4.86

$3.34 $3.34

$7.64 $7.64

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

$2.5 $2.5

$1.97 $1.97

$3.93 $3.93

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.63 $1.63

$3.26 $3.26

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.78 $5.78

$3.86 $3.86

$8.19 $8.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 $6.04

$4.31 $4.31

$8.63 $8.63

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$0.74 $0.74

$1.41 $1.41

White Bread (500g)

$3.6 $3.6

$2.21 $2.21

$5.65 $5.65

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.31 $4.31

$2.07 $2.07

$8.51 $8.51

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$2.03 $2.03

$7.1 $7.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.58 $12.58

$7.18 $7.18

$22.63 $22.63

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.37 $11.37

$6.06 $6.06

$19.61 $19.61

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.32 $15.32

$9.85 $9.85

$24.07 $24.07

Apples (1kg)

$4.77 $4.77

$2.49 $2.49

$8.56 $8.56

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.13 $1.13

$4.28 $4.28

Oranges (1kg)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.19 $2.19

$8.79 $8.79

Tomato (1kg)

$4.83 $4.83

$2.25 $2.25

$9.01 $9.01

Potato (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.34 $1.34

$6.24 $6.24

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$1.87 $1.87

$4.51 $4.51

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.1 $2.1

$1.42 $1.42

$3.06 $3.06

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.19 $1.19

$3.21 $3.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.79 $9.79

$8.17 $8.17

$12.25 $12.25

Wine (Bottle)

$14.17 $14.17

$9.11 $9.11

$22.26 $22.26

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.95 $1.95

$3.22 $3.22

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 $3.23

$1.54 $1.54

$5.77 $5.77

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.2 $1.2

$1.93 $1.93

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.33 $3.33

$5.55 $5.55

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.49 $1.49

$2.09 $2.09

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.96 $29.96

$27.09 $27.09

$35.92 $35.92

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.72 $0.72

$0.95 $0.95

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

$32.7K $32.7K

$26.1K $26.1K

$39.8K $39.8K

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

$23.6K $23.6K

$23K $23K

$24.9K $24.9K

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

$189 $189

$121 $121

$345 $345

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

$52.5 $52.5

$29.83 $29.83

$99.4 $99.4

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$49.74 $49.74

$99.5 $99.5

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.52 $43.52

$17.71 $17.71

$50.6 $50.6

Cinema Ticket

$12.79 $12.79

$10.43 $10.43

$17.06 $17.06

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

$1,263 $1,263

$973 $973

$1,798 $1,798

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.1K $21.1K

$15.1K $15.1K

$24.5K $24.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.8 $47.8

$28.06 $28.06

$74.8 $74.8

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.78 $39.78

$24.86 $24.86

$64.6 $64.6

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 $86.3

$59.7 $59.7

$129 $129

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$125 $125

$71.2 $71.2

$223 $223

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 $1,580

$1,183 $1,183

$1,831 $1,831

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,495 $1,495

$1,105 $1,105

$1,657 $1,657

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,345 $2,345

$1,783 $1,783

$2,675 $2,675

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,490 $2,490

$1,905 $1,905

$2,802 $2,802

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,127 $3,127

$2,233 $2,233

$3,127 $3,127

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,744 $2,744

$2,122 $2,122

$2,744 $2,744

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

6.19

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

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.