CostIndexUSA

Columbia, MO vs Lubbock, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMO
Columbia
89.4
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
TX
Lubbock
91.3
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

Columbia is slightly cheaper than Lubbock — 2.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbia, you would need $81,700 in Lubbock. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+10.4%
Columbia
69.2
Lubbock
76.4
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Columbia
94.2
Lubbock
93.8
🚗 Transportation+3.5%
Columbia
97.7
Lubbock
101.1
🏥 Healthcare+3.4%
Columbia
88.4
Lubbock
91.4
Utilities3.7%
Columbia
86
Lubbock
82.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lubbock, TX
$81,700
$1,700 more needed in Lubbock

Formula: salary × (91.3 ÷ 89.4) = salary × 1.0213. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbia, MO

Median Home Price
$308,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
69.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0×

Lubbock, TX

Median Home Price
$206,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
76.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.7×

Lubbock has 10.4% higher housing costs compared to Columbia.

Income & Job Market

Columbia, MO

Median Household Income
$69,400
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
126,254
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentTechnologyFinance

Lubbock, TX

Median Household Income
$57,100
Per Capita Income
$32,500
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
258,862
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareAgricultureManufacturingGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Columbia, MO
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Lubbock, TX
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.