CostIndexUSA

Columbia, MO vs Provo, UT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMO
Columbia
89.4
overall index
$1,350/mo rent
UT
Provo
98.2
overall index
$1,750/mo rent

Columbia is moderately cheaper than Provo — 9.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbia, you would need $87,900 in Provo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+50.4%
Columbia
69.2
Provo
104.1
🛒 Groceries+2.3%
Columbia
94.2
Provo
96.4
🚗 Transportation+6.3%
Columbia
97.7
Provo
103.9
🏥 Healthcare+6.3%
Columbia
88.4
Provo
94
Utilities8.6%
Columbia
86
Provo
78.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Provo, UT
$87,900
$7,900 more needed in Provo

Formula: salary × (98.2 ÷ 89.4) = salary × 1.0984. 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×

Provo, UT

Median Home Price
$534,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
104.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.4×

Provo has 50.4% higher housing costs compared to Columbia.

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

Provo, UT

Median Household Income
$100,800
Per Capita Income
$57,500
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
116,288
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareManufacturingFinance

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)

Provo, UT
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.