Columbia, MO vs St. Charles, MO

Columbia is moderately more affordable than St. Charles, with a 7.2% lower cost of living index. Columbia scores 86 compared to 92 for St. Charles, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of St. Charles can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Columbia is $1,067/month compared to $1,186/month in St. Charles — a 10% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Columbia is more affordable at $268,300 median vs $280,800.

Median household income in Columbia is $64,488 compared to $85,522 in St. Charles (-24.6%). While St. Charles 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 19.9% of their income on rent, more than the 16.6% in St. Charles.