2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Columbia, MD vs Royal Oak, MI

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Royal Oak or is it cheaper to live in Columbia?
- Royal Oak is 18.0% less expensive than Columbia.

Which city has more affordable housing, Royal Oak or Columbia?
- Royal Oak housing costs are 31.7% less expensive than Columbia housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Columbia or is Health Care more affordable in Royal Oak.
- Health related expenses are 7.6% less in Royal Oak.
 Columbia, MDRoyal Oak, MIUnited States
 Overall  Unlock104.9100
 Food & Groceries104.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock79.9100
 Housing142.9  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$281,800$338,100
 Utilities110  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock113.9100
 Miscellaneous151.6  Unlock100
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 5 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 Royal Oak    20 Reviews

Whoever put crime and urban decay as cons for Royal Oak has never been to Royal Oak. It is a very stable and safe suburb with a lot to do and access to many job  More

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Over 14 years ago

Michigan willturn around as soon as they break the bonds with the car companies.  More

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Over 15 years ago

Fun growing  More

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