CostIndexUSA

Columbia, MO vs Lynchburg, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostMO
Columbia
89.4
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
VA
Lynchburg
89.4
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Columbia and Lynchburg have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing7.7%
Columbia
69.2
Lynchburg
63.9
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Columbia
94.2
Lynchburg
96.8
🚗 Transportation+5.9%
Columbia
97.7
Lynchburg
103.5
🏥 Healthcare+6.0%
Columbia
88.4
Lynchburg
93.7
Utilities+2.1%
Columbia
86
Lynchburg
87.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Columbia to see what you'd need to earn in Lynchburg to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Lynchburg, VA
$80,000
Same salary works in both cities

Formula: salary × (89.4 ÷ 89.4) = salary × 1.0000. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbia, MO

Median Home Price
$308,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
69.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0×

Lynchburg, VA

Median Home Price
$277,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
63.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.8×

Columbia has 7.7% lower housing costs compared to Lynchburg.

Income & Job Market

Columbia, MO

Median Household Income
$69,400
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
126,254
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareGovernmentTechnologyFinance

Lynchburg, VA

Median Household Income
$67,100
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
82,168
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Columbia, MO
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Lynchburg, VA
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.