What Salary Do You Need to Live in Columbus, OH?

To live comfortably in Columbus, a household needs to earn roughly $60,000/year. That's about $5,000/month before taxes.

The Number: $60,000/year

At $60,000 per year, a household in Columbus can afford median-priced rental housing at roughly 28% of gross income.

This is based on Columbus's median monthly rent of $1,383 and the 28% housing guideline. Source: Census ACS 2024.

Columbus at a Glance

Median rent$1,383/mo
Median home price$279,900
Median household income$67,084
State income taxUp to 3.5%
Sales tax7.5%

Sources: Census ACS 2024, Tax Foundation.

For Single Residents

A single person can live comfortably in Columbus on roughly $40,000/year. That's about $3,333/month before taxes.

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Note: Salary estimates are based on the 28% housing guideline applied to median rents from Census ACS 2024. Individual circumstances vary. Full disclaimer.

Salary Questions About Columbus

The median monthly rent is $1,383. Using the 30% guideline, you need about $55,000/year to afford this comfortably.

The median home price is $279,900. With a 20% down payment, you would need roughly $55,980 saved and a household income to support the mortgage payments.

The median household income is $67,084/year. Our recommended salary of $60,000/year is near the median, reflecting a comfortable (not extravagant) standard of living.