Moving to Columbus OH in 2023? Complete Moving Guide

Columbus cost of living is 85.5. The United States average is 100. That means the average cost of living in Columbus is lower than the national average. The following is a breakdown of the key costs of living in the city since you’re considering moving to Columbus:

Columbus housing market

More than 50% of Columbus residents are homeowners. You may decide to buy or rent a home if you’re moving to Columbus. The city has a robust housing market. To make it easier for you to get started, we’ve collated key stats about the city’s housing market.

Let’s take a look since you’re considering moving to Columbus:

• Columbus median home cost is $205,800
• Over the last 10 years home values in the city have risen by 90.7%
• Currently, home values in Columbus are up by 17.2%
• More than 50% of Columbus residents are homeowners
• Up to 2.7% of homes and apartments in Columbus are available to rent

What’s the average cost of renting a home in Columbus?

Thinking of renting a home or an apartment after moving to Columbus? How much should you budget for your rent? Here’s a quick summary of the various costs of renting homes and apartments in Columbus, Ohio:

• The average cost of a studio apartment in Columbus, Ohio is $664
• The average costs of a 1-bedroom home or apartment in Columbus is $754
• The average costs of a 2-bedroom home or apartment in Columbus is $938
• The average costs of a 3-bedroom home or apartment in Columbus is $1,165
• The average costs of a 4-bedroom home or apartment in Columbus is $1,297

The city has a vibrant job market and getting a job is fairly easy. Despite the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, Columbus still has a robust job market. Since you’re mulling over moving to Columbus, here’s a breakdown of the city’s job market:

• Columbus’s unemployment rate is 5.7%. The national average is 6.0%
• Job growth in Columbus has been positive so far
• Over the past year, the number of Columbus jobs have grown by 0.9%

The following are key metrics of the Columbus job market:

Top career options in Columbus

The top career options in Columbus are also the highest-paying jobs in the city. Since you’re considering moving to Columbus, here are the top career options to look out for:

If you’re moving to Columbus from out of state, you’ll have to get familiar with the new taxes. The following are the key taxes in Ohio:

• Ohio’s income tax is 0% - 4.797%
• The local income tax in Ohio is 0% - 3%
• The sales tax in Ohio is 6.5% - 8%
• The property tax in Ohio is 1.48% average effective rate
• Ohio’s gas tax is 38.50 cents per gallon of regular gasoline
• Per gallon of regular diesel, Ohio’s gas tax is 47.00 cents

If you’re wondering about the best things to do after moving to Columbus Ohio, we’ve shared some ideas here to make it easier for you to fill up your bucket list:

• Walk around the German Village
• See a show at the Columbus Civic Theater
• Explore the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
• Grab a bite to eat at the North Market
• Take the Lazarus Building’s rooftop garden tour
• Smell the roses at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
• Go to Villa Nova’s happy hour
• Bike the Olentangy Greenway Trail
• Attend a game at Ohio Stadium
• Find your way into Otherworld
• Enjoy the vibe at Short North
• Check out the museums

Tip: Often, you feel like calculating the moving cost before you connect with a moving company. To help you, we've got a free moving cost calculator.

How does Columbus' crime compare to the rest of Ohio and the U.S.?

Here’s how crime rates in Columbus compare to the rest of Ohio and the entire United States: