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Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA

Cost of living in Columbia County, PA

Estimated monthly cost
$2,837/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 65,055 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $871 31%
Healthcare $480 17%
Federal tax $466 16%
Groceries $341 12%
Transport $320 11%
Energy $205 7%
State tax $99 3%
Water $55 2%

Rent in Columbia County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$730
per month
1 bedroom
$871
per month
2 bedroom
$1,065
per month
3 bedroom
$1,283
per month
4 bedroom
$1,505
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Columbia County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$61,992
per year
Individual earnings
$38,539
per year
Per capita
$32,432
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Columbia County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$199,200
Annual property tax
$2,266

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Columbia County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$143
per month · 17.9¢/kWh
Natural gas
$62
per month
Annual total
$2,460
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Columbia County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
4.3%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Columbia County

State and local tax rates for Pennsylvania.

State income tax
3.1%
Flat rate
State sales tax
6.0%
Combined sales tax
6.3%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Columbia County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
21.7 min
Drive alone
78.5%
Public transit
0.3%
Work from home
10.3%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Columbia County

What it costs to live in Columbia County each month.

Single person
$2,837
per month
  • Rent $871
  • Energy $205
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $341
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $466
  • State tax $99
Couple
$4,068
per month
  • Rent $1,065
  • Energy $246
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $565
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $684
  • State tax $159
Family
$6,436
per month
  • Rent $1,283
  • Energy $308
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $857
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $684
  • State tax $159

Frequently asked questions about Columbia County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Columbia County?

In Columbia County, PA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $871 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,065 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,283 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Columbia County?

In Columbia County, PA, the average household income is $61,992 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $38,539 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Columbia County?

The estimated cost of living in Columbia County, PA is approximately $2,837 per month for a single person, $4,068 for a couple, $6,436 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Columbia County?

The combined sales tax rate in Columbia County, PA is 6.34%, which includes the Pennsylvania state rate of 6.00% plus an average local rate of 0.34%.

Is Columbia County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Columbia County, PA would need approximately $2,837 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $61,992 per year ($5,166 per month). Columbia County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Columbia County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Columbia County, PA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 4.3% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Columbia County?

The average home value in Columbia County, PA is $199,200, with average annual property taxes of $2,266, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Columbia County compare to other areas?

You can compare Columbia County, PA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Columbia County is in the Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA metro area.

Other counties in Pennsylvania

Browse the full list of counties in Pennsylvania, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Pennsylvania

Compare Columbia County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources