Relocation profile · Federal data
Columbia, MO
BEA RPP 89.4 ranks #88 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
- 89.4
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,160
- 2BR rent / mo
- $61,908
- Median salary
- 57.7
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Columbia ranks #89 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (57.7/100), with its strongest marks in schools and cost of living.
- #89
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 6,245,466
- metro-area population
- 463
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 2,321
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: safety (15/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Columbia ranks #89 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 89.4 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,160/mo, median salary $61,908; LiveAbility Score 57.7/100, strongest in schools and cost of living.
Signature: BEA RPP 89.4 ranks #88 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 89.4 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,160/mo.
LiveAbility 57.7/100 puts Columbia in the top third (#89 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Columbia area is 99,550.
Columbia vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
58 Top 23% higher than 77% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Columbia housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Columbia MSA; housing RPP 69.2 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,160/mo.
Columbia wages and employment
Columbia posts 99,550 total employment with median salary $61,908 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $84,330 |
| General and Operations Managers | $75,410 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $36,860 |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,390 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $29,110 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Columbia area from NCES.
Life Score Breakdown
Columbia's composite Life Score is 50.1/100 (D), computed across 6 of 7 dimensions (missing dims omitted; remaining weights renormalized).
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Columbia ranks #89 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 57.7/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Columbia - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Schools
Schools
89 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
78 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
77 /100
- Housing
Housing
72 /100
- Climate
Climate
57 /100
- Job market
Job market
42 /100
- Low hazard 19
Low hazard
19 /100
- Safety 15
Safety
15 /100
What this shows Columbia's strongest dimensions are schools and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is safety at 15/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Columbia to
Metros near Columbia on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Columbia on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Columbia cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Columbia wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Columbia?
Columbia runs a $61,908 median salary at a 89.4 cost index, ranking #89 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Columbia's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Columbia head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Columbia
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.