Columbia, IL vs South Chicago Heights, IL

South Chicago Heights is moderately more affordable than Columbia, with a 11.8% lower cost of living index. Columbia scores 90 compared to 81 for South Chicago Heights, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Columbia 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 $1,105/month in South Chicago Heights — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Columbia has cheaper rent, South Chicago Heights actually has lower median home values ($136,000 vs $290,100).

Median household income in Columbia is $107,922 compared to $56,250 in South Chicago Heights (+91.9%). While Columbia is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Columbia spend roughly 12.1% of their income on rent, less than the 23.6% in South Chicago Heights.