Residential comparison · 13 facts
Columbia, MO vs Jefferson City, MO
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Columbia needs about $79,500 in Jefferson City to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Jefferson City, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $90,500 in Columbia.
A few differences
- Columbia is higher on median household income ($66,498 vs $66,371).
- Jefferson City is lower on cost of living index (77 vs 85).
- Jefferson City is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($751/mo vs $1,032/mo).
Columbia vs Jefferson City · facet by facet
| Facet | Columbia, MO | Jefferson City, MO |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $284,600 | $218,700 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,032/mo | $751/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.88% | 0.88% |
| State & local income tax | 2.95% | 2.95% |
| Sales tax | 8.4% | 8.4% |
| Cost of living index | 85 | 77 |
| Groceries index | 95 | 95 |
| Utilities | $165/mo | $165/mo |
| Median household income | $66,498 | $66,371 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| Crime index | 55/100 | 55/100 |
| School rating | 5.5/10 | 5.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 205 days | 205 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Columbia, MO · Jefferson City, MO
Questions & answers
- Is Columbia cheaper than Jefferson City?
- Jefferson City has the lower day-to-day cost index (77 vs 85 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Jefferson City equals $85,000 in Columbia?
- A household earning $85,000 in Columbia needs about $79,500 in Jefferson City to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Jefferson City lifestyle costs about $90,500 in Columbia.