Uprootmap
Charleston vs Columbus
Charleston and Columbus
Photo: Paul Wasneski / Wikimedia, Public domain
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Columbus are above the US rate in this release, 8.6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Charleston to Columbus
In 2022-2023, 52 households filed a move from Charleston to Columbus (about 85 people, average adjusted gross income $46,865). Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,011 in Charleston and $1,176 in Columbus. Charleston has a state tax on wages. Columbus has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Columbus is 97% of the national level for the same work, against 88% in Charleston.
Columbus averages 179 sunny days, with July highs around 85°F and January nights around 21°F. Charleston is 188 sunny days, 84°F in July, 29°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Columbus and 24 in Charleston.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 52 households moved Charleston → Columbus (about 85 people, average AGI $46,865). The reverse flow is too small for the IRS to publish.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Charleston and Columbus changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 164 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,700–$3,200
- Container or pod
- $1,150–$2,150
- Rent a truck
- $450–$800
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Dig into Columbus
Questions
Is Columbus cheaper than Charleston after tax and rent?
No. Columbus leaves about $92 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,011 in Charleston and $1,176 in Columbus.
Does Columbus have state income tax?
Columbus is in Ohio, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 2.50%.
Did people actually move from Charleston to Columbus?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.