Cost of Living Comparison
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The most comprehensive cost of living comparison tool for US cities. Make informed relocation decisions with real data from trusted sources.

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Data: Zillow • Census • FBI • NOAA • BLS

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ColumbiavsChicago

Moving from Columbia to Chicago will cost approximately $4,517 more on median home prices (0.9% higher). Monthly rent is $19 more expensive in Chicago. Note that median income is 23.9% lower in Chicago.

Housing
0.9% more
Rent
0.9% more
View ColumbiaView Chicago
Chicago

Side-by-Side Comparison

Origin

Columbia, MD

Median Home Price$520,757
Monthly Rent$2,170
Median Income$96,138
Population103,467
Destination

Chicago, IL

Median Home Price
$525,274+0.9%
Monthly Rent
$2,189+0.9%
Median Income
$73,194-23.9%
Population2,720,556
Housing

Rent History & Trends

Understanding how rental prices have changed over time helps predict future affordability and make informed decisions about your move.

Columbia

2015$1,593
2020$1,750
2025$2,170

Chicago

2015$1,513
2020$1,592
2025$2,189

Annual Cost of Living

A comprehensive breakdown of annual living expenses helps you budget effectively for your new life in Chicago.

Columbia

Housing$12,376
Food$6,344
Transport$13,060
Healthcare$7,146
Total$50,738

Chicago

Housing$7,516
Food$5,442
Transport$13,003
Healthcare$12,465
Total$50,964
Costs

Key Insights

0.9%
Housing Cost
more expensive in Chicago
$19
Monthly Rent Difference
additional cost per month
23.9%
Income Level
lower median income

Demographics

Columbia

Population103,467
Median Age37.9 yrs
Violent Crime Rate435 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1522 per 100k

Chicago

Population2,720,556
Median Age34.2 yrs
Violent Crime Rate345 per 100k
Property Crime Rate1393 per 100k

Safety & Crime Statistics

Columbia

435
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1522
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

Chicago

345
Violent Crime Rate (per 100k)
1393
Property Crime Rate (per 100k)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Columbia?

Columbia is 0.9% cheaper for housing than Chicago. The median home price in Columbia is $520,757 compared to $525,274 in Chicago.

What is the rent difference between Columbia and Chicago?

Monthly rent in Chicago averages $2,189, while Columbia averages $2,170. That's a difference of $19 per month, or $226 annually.

How do incomes compare between Columbia and Chicago?

The median household income in Chicago is $73,194, which is 23.9% lower than Columbia's median of $96,138.

Which city is safer: Columbia or Chicago?

Columbia has a violent crime rate of 435 per 100k residents, while Chicago has 345 per 100k. Chicago is statistically safer.

What is Estates?

Estates is a comprehensive cost of living comparison platform covering over 3,900 US cities. We help you compare housing prices, rent, income levels, crime rates, demographics, and climate data to make informed relocation decisions. Our data comes from trusted sources including Zillow, the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, and NOAA.