Columbus, IL vs Royal, IL

Columbus is moderately more affordable than Royal, with a 10.9% lower cost of living index. Columbus scores 69 compared to 77 for Royal, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Royal can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Columbus is $875/month compared to $1,109/month in Royal — a 21% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Columbus is more affordable at $105,400 median vs $144,600.

Median household income in Columbus is $72,500 compared to $93,500 in Royal (-22.5%). While Royal is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Columbus spend roughly 14.5% of their income on rent, more than the 14.2% in Royal.