CostIndexUSA

Columbus, GA vs Waterbury, CT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableGA
Columbus
89.3
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
CT
Waterbury
99.8
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Columbus is moderately cheaper than Waterbury — 11.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbus, you would need $89,400 in Waterbury. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+45.6%
Columbus
61.2
Waterbury
89.1
🛒 Groceries+1.0%
Columbus
96.3
Waterbury
97.3
🚗 Transportation+4.2%
Columbus
103.5
Waterbury
107.8
🏥 Healthcare+4.2%
Columbus
93.6
Waterbury
97.5
Utilities+64.5%
Columbus
89.7
Waterbury
147.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waterbury, CT
$89,400
$9,400 more needed in Waterbury

Formula: salary × (99.8 ÷ 89.3) = salary × 1.1176. 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×

Waterbury, CT

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
89.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.4×

Waterbury has 45.6% 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

Waterbury, CT

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
114,403
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceEducationGovernment

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)

Waterbury, CT
5.1×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.