CostIndexUSA

Columbia, SC vs Pueblo, CO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

SC
Columbia
93.7
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableCO
Pueblo
91.8
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Pueblo is slightly cheaper than Columbia — 2.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbia, you would need $78,400 in Pueblo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing10.3%
Columbia
79.5
Pueblo
71.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Columbia
96.3
Pueblo
96.1
🚗 Transportation+1.6%
Columbia
103.2
Pueblo
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+1.5%
Columbia
93.4
Pueblo
94.8
Utilities7.2%
Columbia
88.3
Pueblo
81.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Pueblo, CO
$78,400
$1,600 less needed in Pueblo

Formula: salary × (91.8 ÷ 93.7) = salary × 0.9797. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbia, SC

Median Home Price
$248,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
79.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Pueblo, CO

Median Home Price
$281,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
71.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.7×

Columbia has 10.3% lower housing costs compared to Pueblo.

Income & Job Market

Columbia, SC

Median Household Income
$67,200
Per Capita Income
$38,300
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
136,632
Top Industries
GovernmentMilitaryHealthcareEducationFinance

Pueblo, CO

Median Household Income
$65,200
Per Capita Income
$37,200
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
111,876
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetailAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

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

Columbia, SC
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Pueblo, CO
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.