CostIndexUSA

Columbus, OH vs Ocala, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostOH
Columbus
95.5
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
FL
Ocala
95.2
overall index
$1,600/mo rent

Columbus and Ocala have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing1.9%
Columbus
87.9
Ocala
86.2
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Columbus
93.6
Ocala
96.2
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Columbus
103.9
Ocala
103.8
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Columbus
94
Ocala
93.9
Utilities8.8%
Columbus
95.5
Ocala
87.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Ocala, FL
$79,800
$200 less needed in Ocala

Formula: salary × (95.2 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 0.9969. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbus, OH

Median Home Price
$317,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
87.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

Ocala, FL

Median Home Price
$271,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
86.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.1×

Columbus has 1.9% lower housing costs compared to Ocala.

Income & Job Market

Columbus, OH

Median Household Income
$77,400
Per Capita Income
$44,100
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
905,748
Top Industries
FinanceRetailHealthcareEducationGovernment

Ocala, FL

Median Household Income
$58,600
Per Capita Income
$33,400
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
63,591
Top Industries
HealthcareEquestrianManufacturingRetailAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

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

Columbus, OH
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Ocala, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.