Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbus, IN and Fajardo Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbus, IN and Fajardo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,138 per month in Columbus, IN vs $1,917 in Fajardo, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,216 per month in Columbus, IN vs $3,152 in Fajardo, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,293 per month in Columbus, IN vs $4,388 in Fajardo, rent included.

Columbus, IN costs about 12% more than Fajardo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Columbus, IN and Fajardo sit above the global median – Columbus, IN by 60%, Fajardo by 43%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.66 $16.66

$10.11 $10.11

64.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.9 $59.9

$80.9 $80.9

-26.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 $9.95

$9.78 $9.78

1.74%

Cappuccino

$4.21 $4.21

$3.68 $3.68

14.40%

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

$2.38 $2.38

$1.78 $1.78

33.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.39 $1.39

23.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$9.27 $9.27

$3.07 $3.07

201.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.90 $11.90

$4.57 $4.57

160.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$2.39 $2.39

-69.04%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 $2.37

$3.08 $3.08

-23.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.20 $2.20

28.18%

Eggs

$2.35 $2.35

$5.78 $5.78

-59.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.24 $11.24

$4.98 $4.98

125.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.48 $17.48

$8.60 $8.60

103.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.54 $9.54

$12.84 $12.84

-25.70%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$6.03 $6.03

-27.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 $1.24

$2.66 $2.66

-53.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.27 $4.27

$3.86 $3.86

10.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$3.95 $3.95

10.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$4.06 $4.06

-26.85%

Onion (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$3.08 $3.08

-1.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 $2.06

$3.03 $3.03

-32.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 $0.43

$2.00 $2.00

-78.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.45 $7.45

$11.26 $11.26

-33.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.89 $14.89

$9.75 $9.75

52.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.45 $2.45

-27.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.24 $3.24

50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.61 $1.61

$1.53 $1.53

5.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.68 $28.68

$15.11 $15.11

89.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.89 $0.89

-2.25%

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

$29.7K $29.7K

$35.7K $35.7K

-16.65%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$26.4K $26.4K

-2.31%

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

$204 $204

$346 $346

-41.01%

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

$45.45 $45.45

$80.0 $80.0

-43.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.7 $64.7

$70.6 $70.6

-8.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.23 $45.23

$99.5 $99.5

-54.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.36 $34.36

Cinema Ticket

$12.21 $12.21

$12.02 $12.02

1.58%

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

$555 $555

$475 $475

16.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,058 $5,058

$10.3K $10.3K

-51.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.32 $46.32

$45.70 $45.70

1.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.69 $39.69

$57.0 $57.0

-30.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 $75.1

$92.6 $92.6

-18.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 $106

$104 $104

1.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 $1,203

$718 $718

67.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$985 $985

$591 $591

66.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,837 $1,837

$1,605 $1,605

14.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,786 $1,786

$1,613 $1,613

10.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,644 $1,644

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,641 $1,641

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,043 $4,043

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

5.5

18.91%

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

Last update for Columbus, IN: May 31, 2026

Last update for Fajardo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,203 in Columbus, IN versus $718 in Fajardo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Columbus, IN versus $81.0 in Fajardo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $347 vs $357 – making Columbus, IN the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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, IN vs Fajardo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Columbus, IN costs about 12% more than Fajardo, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,206 per month in Columbus, IN and $2,875 in Fajardo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fajardo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Columbus, IN and $81.0 in Fajardo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Columbus, IN – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fajardo, where all-in costs run around $1,917, than in Columbus, IN at $2,138. In Fajardo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Columbus, IN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Fajardo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Fajardo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Columbus, IN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.