CostIndexUSA

Columbus, GA vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

GA
Columbus
89.3
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is moderately cheaper than Columbus — 6.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Columbus, you would need $74,900 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−30.1%
Columbus
61.2
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries−2.7%
Columbus
96.3
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation−2.9%
Columbus
103.5
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare−2.9%
Columbus
93.6
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−19.5%
Columbus
89.7
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$74,900
$5,100 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 89.3) = salary × 0.9362. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbus, GA

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
61.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Columbus has 30.1% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

Income & Job Market

Columbus, GA

Median Household Income
$54,700
Per Capita Income
$31,200
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
206,922
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Columbus, GA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Columbus vs other cities

Columbus, GA
vs
Atlanta, GA
Index: 89.3Index: 100.1
Columbus, GA
vs
Augusta, GA
Index: 89.3Index: 91.9
Columbus, GA
vs
Macon, GA
Index: 89.3Index: 88.5
Columbus, GA
vs
Worcester, MA
Index: 89.3Index: 102.5
Columbus, GA
vs
Fayetteville, NC
Index: 89.3Index: 92

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

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.