Cost of living in the Columbus Metro Area
7 counties across GA and AL. Population: 326,136.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Columbus Metro Area
Average rent across the Columbus metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Columbus Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 7 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Columbus Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Columbus Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 7 counties in the Columbus Metro Area
The Columbus metro area includes 7 counties across GA and AL. Sorted by population.
- Muscogee County GA$2,942/moPop204,383 Rent$937/mo Income$56,622/yrMuscogee County GA 204,383 $937/mo $56,622/yr $2,942/mo
- Russell County AL$2,877/moPop58,858 Rent$937/mo Income$50,046/yrRussell County AL 58,858 $937/mo $50,046/yr $2,877/mo
- Harris County GA$3,189/moPop35,509 Rent$937/mo Income$89,184/yrHarris County GA 35,509 $937/mo $89,184/yr $3,189/mo
- Chattahoochee County GA$2,717/moPop9,181 Rent$937/mo Income$59,221/yrChattahoochee County GA 9,181 $937/mo $59,221/yr $2,717/mo
- Marion County GA$2,925/moPop7,474 Rent$937/mo Income$50,484/yrMarion County GA 7,474 $937/mo $50,484/yr $2,925/mo
- Talbot County GA$2,700/moPop5,753 Rent$767/mo Income$45,098/yrTalbot County GA 5,753 $767/mo $45,098/yr $2,700/mo
- Stewart County GA$2,609/moPop4,978 Rent$817/mo Income$35,000/yrStewart County GA 4,978 $817/mo $35,000/yr $2,609/mo
Compare counties in the Columbus 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 Columbus Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Columbus Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Columbus metro area is approximately $2,941 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 7 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Columbus Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Columbus metro area is $932 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Columbus Metro Area?
Stewart County, GA is the most affordable county in the Columbus metro area at approximately $2,609 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Columbus Metro Area?
Harris County, GA is the most expensive county in the Columbus metro area at approximately $3,189 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Columbus Metro Area?
The Columbus metro area covers 7 counties across GA and AL. The five largest by population are Muscogee County, Russell County, Harris County, Chattahoochee County, Marion 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.