CostIndexUSA

Columbus, GA vs Saginaw, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableGA
Columbus
89.3
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
MI
Saginaw
90.9
overall index
$1,000/mo rent

Columbus is slightly cheaper than Saginaw — 1.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbus, you would need $81,400 in Saginaw. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+3.9%
Columbus
61.2
Saginaw
63.6
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Columbus
96.3
Saginaw
93.7
🚗 Transportation+1.0%
Columbus
103.5
Saginaw
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+1.1%
Columbus
93.6
Saginaw
94.6
Utilities+6.8%
Columbus
89.7
Saginaw
95.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Saginaw, MI
$81,400
$1,400 more needed in Saginaw

Formula: salary × (90.9 ÷ 89.3) = salary × 1.0179. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbus, GA

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

Saginaw, MI

Median Home Price
$160,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Housing Index
63.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Saginaw has 3.9% higher housing costs compared to Columbus.

Income & Job Market

Columbus, GA

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

Saginaw, MI

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
6.2%
Population
44,909
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetailEducation

Affordability at a Glance

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

Columbus, GA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Saginaw, MI
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.