Cost of living in the Columbia Metro Area
3 counties across MO. Population: 212,850.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Columbia Metro Area
Average rent across the Columbia metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Columbia Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 3 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Columbia Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Columbia Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 3 counties in the Columbia Metro Area
The Columbia metro area includes 3 counties. Sorted by population.
- Columbia MO$2,839/moPop185,874 Rent$862/mo Income$69,913/yrColumbia MO 185,874 $862/mo $69,913/yr $2,839/mo
- Cooper County MO$2,592/moPop16,835 Rent$628/mo Income$67,548/yrCooper County MO 16,835 $628/mo $67,548/yr $2,592/mo
- Howard County MO$2,621/moPop10,141 Rent$695/mo Income$62,628/yrHoward County MO 10,141 $695/mo $62,628/yr $2,621/mo
Compare counties in the Columbia Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Columbia Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Columbia Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Columbia metro area is approximately $2,809 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 3 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Columbia Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Columbia metro area is $836 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Columbia Metro Area?
Cooper County, MO is the most affordable county in the Columbia metro area at approximately $2,592 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Columbia Metro Area?
Boone County, MO is the most expensive county in the Columbia metro area at approximately $2,839 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Columbia Metro Area?
The Columbia metro area covers 3 counties. The five largest by population are Columbia, Cooper County, Howard County.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.