Columbia, IL vs O'Fallon, IL

Columbia is moderately more affordable than O'Fallon, with a 5.7% lower cost of living index. Columbia scores 90 compared to 96 for O'Fallon, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of O'Fallon can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Columbia is $1,089/month compared to $1,312/month in O'Fallon — a 17% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Columbia has cheaper rent, O'Fallon actually has lower median home values ($274,100 vs $290,100).

Median household income in Columbia is $107,922 compared to $102,793 in O'Fallon (+5%). Columbia offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Columbia spend roughly 12.1% of their income on rent, less than the 15.3% in O'Fallon.