CostIndexUSA

Abilene, TX vs Columbus, GA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Abilene
90.4
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
More AffordableGA
Columbus
89.3
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Columbus is slightly cheaper than Abilene — 1.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Abilene, you would need $79,000 in Columbus. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing17.1%
Abilene
73.8
Columbus
61.2
🛒 Groceries+2.7%
Abilene
93.8
Columbus
96.3
🚗 Transportation+2.4%
Abilene
101.1
Columbus
103.5
🏥 Healthcare+2.4%
Abilene
91.4
Columbus
93.6
Utilities+10.5%
Abilene
81.2
Columbus
89.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Abilene to see what you'd need to earn in Columbus to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Columbus, GA
$79,000
$1,000 less needed in Columbus

Formula: salary × (89.3 ÷ 90.4) = salary × 0.9878. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Abilene, TX

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
73.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
9.4×

Columbus, GA

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
61.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Abilene has 17.1% lower housing costs compared to Columbus.

Income & Job Market

Abilene, TX

Median Household Income
$61,300
Per Capita Income
$34,900
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
124,451
Top Industries
HealthcareMilitaryEducationRetailManufacturing

Columbus, GA

Median Household Income
$54,700
Per Capita Income
$31,200
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
206,922
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Abilene, TX
2.9×income-to-rent ratio

65% of income left after rent (median)

Columbus, GA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.