CostIndexUSA

Columbus, OH vs Yakima, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostOH
Columbus
95.5
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
WA
Yakima
95.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Columbus and Yakima have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing17.4%
Columbus
87.9
Yakima
72.6
🛒 Groceries+12.2%
Columbus
93.6
Yakima
105
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Columbus
103.9
Yakima
104.4
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Columbus
94
Yakima
94.5
Utilities3.8%
Columbus
95.5
Yakima
91.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Yakima, WA
$80,000
Same salary works in both cities

Formula: salary × (95.5 ÷ 95.5) = salary × 1.0000. 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×

Yakima, WA

Median Home Price
$342,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
72.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.9×

Columbus has 17.4% lower housing costs compared to Yakima.

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

Yakima, WA

Median Household Income
$69,500
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
92,685
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

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)

Yakima, WA
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.