😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,248 in Columbus, GA versus $1,834 in Derry.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,923 in Columbus, GA versus $2,671 in Derry.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,597 in Columbus, GA versus $3,507 in Derry.
😐Living in Columbus, GA is roughly 23% more expensive than Derry, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Columbus, GA68% above, Derry37% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Columbus, GA
Derry
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.31$18.31
$13.76€11.85
33.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.24$49.24
$61.6€53.0
-20.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.05$11.05
$8.43€7.26
31.08%
Cappuccino
$4.42$4.42
$4.18€3.60
5.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$2.07€1.78
-1.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54$1.54
$1.62€1.40
-4.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.91$4.91
$5.28€4.54
-7.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.81$6.81
$5.45€4.70
24.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Columbus, GA
Derry
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$1.49€1.29
-30.20%
White Bread(500g)
$3.38$3.38
$1.61€1.38
109.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.30$2.30
$2.17€1.87
5.99%
Eggs
$2.75$2.75
$3.57€3.07
-22.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.55$10.55
$12.80€11.03
-17.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.26$9.26
$10.45€9.00
-11.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.26$9.26
$11.90€10.24
-22.18%
Apples(1kg)
$4.26$4.26
$2.99€2.58
42.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39$1.39
$1.60€1.38
-13.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.68$2.68
$2.83€2.44
-5.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.72$3.72
$3.53€3.04
5.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.67$1.67
$1.10€0.95
51.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82$1.82
$1.45€1.25
25.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.67$1.67
$1.10€0.95
51.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88$1.88
$1.60€1.38
17.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.07$7.07
$16.05€13.82
-55.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.28$15.28
$10.98€9.46
39.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64$1.64
$2.33€2.01
-29.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23$1.23
$2.74€2.36
-55.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Columbus, GA
Derry
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.27$1.27
$2.49€2.15
-49.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.8$53.8
$97.3€83.8
-44.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.02$2.02
$5.07€4.36
-60.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.21$1.21
$1.34€1.15
-9.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.80$20.80
$43.22€37.22
-51.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87$0.87
$2.00€1.72
-56.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K$27.9K
$42.2K€36.3K
-33.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K$25.4K
$39.3K€33.8K
-35.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Columbus, GA
Derry
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149$149
$220€189
-32.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.70$39.70
$21.63€18.63
83.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8$63.8
$54.8€47.22
16.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Columbus, GA
Derry
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$9.95$9.95
$34.24€29.49
-70.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.67$7.67
$26.98€23.23
-71.57%
Cinema Ticket
$10.09$10.09
$10.89€9.37
-7.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Columbus, GA
Derry
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$943$943
$1,040€895
-9.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.4K$23.4K
$8,246€7,100
183.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Columbus, GA
Derry
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.55$44.55
$89.9€77.4
-50.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.82$29.82
$39.45€33.97
-24.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.9$97.9
$102€87.7
-3.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102$102
$75.7€65.2
34.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Columbus, GA
Derry
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,253$1,253
$730€628
71.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,191$1,191
$719€619
65.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,407$1,407
$1,288€1,109
9.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252$1,252
$1,037€893
20.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,193$6,193
$2,424€2,087
155.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,191$6,191
$1,783€1,535
247.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Columbus, GA
Derry
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,607$3,607
$2,514€2,165
43.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.57
4.18
57.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Columbus, GA: June 2, 2026
Last update for Derry: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,253 in Columbus, GA and $730 in Derry. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Columbus, GA pays 43% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $49.00 in Columbus, GA vs $62.0 in Derry. Groceries flip the comparison at $308 vs $303, with Derry cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Columbus, GA vs Derry: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Columbus, GA or Derry?
Derry wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Columbus, GA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Derry the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Columbus, GA or Derry?
Columbus, GA pays 43% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Columbus, GA vs Derry?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,253 in Columbus, GA versus $730 in Derry. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Columbus, GA compared to Derry?
All in, you'll spend $2,248 per month in Columbus, GA versus $1,834 in Derry – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Columbus, GA vs Derry?
A monthly transit pass in Derry runs roughly 81% less than in Columbus, GA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Columbus, GA or Derry?
At $1,834 in Derry versus $2,248 in Columbus, GA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Derry but tight or insufficient in Columbus, GA. The gap between the two cities makes Derry the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Columbus, GA or Derry?
Both work as nomad bases, but Derry delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,834 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Derry hard to pass up.
How safe is Columbus, GA compared to Derry?
Safety-wise, Columbus, GA and Derry are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Derry gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Columbus, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Columbus, GA vs other spots: cost of living compared