2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Columbus, OH vs Muscatine, IA

Change Cities
Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Muscatine or is it cheaper to live in Columbus?
- Muscatine is 15.8% less expensive than Columbus.

Which city has more affordable housing, Muscatine or Columbus?
- Muscatine housing costs are 35.0% less expensive than Columbus housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Columbus or is Health Care more affordable in Muscatine.
- Health related expenses are 17.1% more in Muscatine.
 Columbus, OHMuscatine, IAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock77.0100
 Food & Groceries98.8  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock104.8100
 Housing70.6  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$163,800$338,100
 Utilities102  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock62.2100
 Miscellaneous107.5  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
DID YOU KNOW?

In order to keep your same standard of living your salary can vary greatly - whether you buy or rent, require child care, or want to include taxes. This is why we are now offering a Premium Salary & Cost of Living Calculator.

Our Premium Calculator Includes:
- Compare Cities cost of living across 9 different categories
- Personal salary calculations can optionally include Home ownership or rental, Child care, and Taxes (with details on state and local sales, income, property and automobile taxes)
- Includes the cost of Child Care for toddlers or infants, at a day care center or home care
- Grocery prices, detailed for 29 staple items in six categories
- Difference in cost of Utilities, including electric, gas and fuel oil
- Health Care Premiums and hospital expenses for major surgeries
- Taxes, Fees and Expenses you should know about, such as local car insurance rates, automobile taxes and registration, commuting costs.
- and 100s of other items you should consider before you relocate

Upgrade to Premium | See Example

Reviews for Columbus    156 Reviews

Ellenore · 
Over 2 years ago

I've lived here for my whole life! Awesome place to  More

   |    Reply

We lived in Columbus from 2014-2022, originally from Denver work has taken us to Charlotte, NC, Austin and Atlanta for perspective. One of our biggest reasons for  More

   |    Reply

Over 3 years ago

The city has nice areas and old/ugly areas that look like the remains of a civil war. The nice areas are pretty. Traffic isn't bad compared to Cali but the summer  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Columbus

Reviews for Muscatine    3 Reviews

Over 11 years ago

We recently relocated here in October for my husbands work. This is a beautiful city located on the mississippi river. It boasts of state of the art playground equipment  More

   |    Reply

Over 15 years ago

This is the worst place that I have ever lived. There is nothing to do here except drugs. The schools are also terrible. I ended up sending my son to a private boarding  More

   |    Reply

Over 19 years ago

We live just outside of Muscatine,On a bluff looking over the Mississippi river. We have a great view of the river( never floods) and a house in our subdivision just  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Muscatine


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.