| Index | Columbus | Illinois | National |
| Cost of living index | 78 | 98 | 100 |
| Index | Columbus | Illinois | National |
| Goods & Services index | 89 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries index | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care index | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Housing index | 41 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation index | 90 | 112 | 100 |
| Utilities index | 109 | 97 | 100 |
| Cost of living index | |
| Goods & Services index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $32,083 | $2,674 | $749 | $963 |
| Renters | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Illinois | 6.25% | 10.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Illinois | 3.75% | 3.75% |
| Item | Columbus | National avg. | Difference |
| Haircut | $13.97 | $17.49 | 20.1% |
| Beauty Salon | $20.49 | $38.17 | 46.3% |
| Toothpaste | $2.16 | $2.32 | 6.9% |
| Shampoo | $1.05 | $1.01 | 3.8% |
| Movie | $9.00 | $10.72 | 16.1% |
| Bowling | $7.75 | $13.86 | 44.1% |
| Item | Columbus | National avg. | Difference |
| Ground Beef | $3.39 | $3.90 | 13.1% |
| Fried Chicken | $1.55 | $1.40 | 11.1% |
| Milk | $2.15 | $1.96 | 9.6% |
| Potatoes | $2.49 | $3.18 | 21.8% |
| Pizza | $10.70 | $10.39 | 2.9% |
| Beer | $9.99 | $9.23 | 8.2% |
| Item | Columbus | National avg. | Difference |
| Optometrist | $101.00 | $106.34 | 5.0% |
| Doctor | $121.00 | $115.25 | 5.0% |
| Dentist | $86.00 | $98.38 | 12.6% |
| Ibuprofen | $9.49 | $9.26 | 2.5% |
| Lipitor | $536.88 | $466.47 | 15.1% |
| Item | Columbus | National avg. | Difference |
| Home Price | $75,000.00 | $184,700.00 | 59.4% |
| Avg. Mortgage Payment | $892.73 | $1,273.32 | 29.9% |
| Apartment Rent | $0.00 | $949.00 | 100.0% |
| Item | Columbus | National avg. | Difference |
| Gasoline | $2.52 | $2.59 | 3.0% |
| Tire Balancing | $39.00 | $48.90 | 20.2% |
| Item | Columbus | National avg. | Difference |
| All Electricity | $196.50 | $167.60 | 17.2% |
| Phone | $177.99 | $163.42 | 8.9% |
| City, State | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Clayton, IL | 607 | 76 | -24% |
| Mound Station, IL | 158 | 76 | -24% |
| Lima, IL | 121 | 77 | -23% |
| La Prairie, IL | 68 | 77 | -23% |
| Golden, IL | 643 | 78 | -22% |
| Columbus, IL | 115 | 78 | -22% |
| City, State | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Kerr, MT | 115 | 114 | 14% |
| La Feria North, TX | 115 | 83 | -17% |
| St. Anthony, IA | 115 | 83 | -17% |
| Alfarata, PA | 115 | 84 | -16% |
| Sammy Martinez, TX | 115 | 80 | -20% |
| Columbus, IL | 115 | 78 | -22% |