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2024 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Columbia, MD vs Washington, DC

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Washington or is it cheaper to live in Columbia?
- Washington is 18.8% more expensive than Columbia.

Which city has more affordable housing, Washington or Columbia?
- Washington housing costs are 62.0% more expensive than Columbia housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Columbia or is Health Care more affordable in Washington.
- Health related expenses are 10.4% more in Washington.
 Columbia, MDWashington, DCUnited States
 Overall127.9151.9100
 Food & Groceries104.5114.1100
 Health86.595.5100
 Housing142.9231.5100
 Median Home Cost$441,800$644,900$338,100
 Utilities10,970.0%10,600.0%10,000.0%
 Transportation107.9135.3100
 Miscellaneous151.6175.9100

100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Columbia    28 Reviews

Over 4 years ago

Lived here for a while, beautiful opportunities, pays well, overall nice  More

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Been here 30 years was great at first but once they added a transit bus from baltimore to columbia 15-18 years ago that was the beginning of the end. And about 5 years  More

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Columbia can be described in one word: unequal. The neighborhood I live in, River Hill, is jam-packed with almost million-dollar homes, while the neighborhoods of Long  More

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Reviews for Washington    97 Reviews

Over 3 years ago

Living in DC long term brings on a kind of insidious misery. A long, slow, simmering down of any natural optimism or desire for a better future. It’s a leach of a town  More

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Over 4 years ago

Parts are beautiful but alot is rundown and ghetto. They always show the monuments and upper nw neighborhoods but never show hoods across the Anacostia River. Crime is  More

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Moved to DC 40 years ago from Mpls-St. Paul. DC is an amazing town. Downside is people are very competitive, everything is expensive. Great restaurants, foodie heaven  More

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ZIPS IN COLUMBIA, MARYLAND
21044 21045 21046 21029
ZIPS IN WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
20011, 20002, 20019, 20020, 20009, 20001, 20032, 20016, 20010, 20003, 45 total

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