Uprootmap
Chicago vs Columbia
Chicago and Columbia
Photo: csch15 / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Columbia are close to the US rate in this release, 6.7 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Chicago to Columbia
In 2022-2023, 193 households filed a move from Chicago to Columbia (about 241 people, average adjusted gross income $36,446). 171 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,782 in Chicago and $1,020 in Columbia. Chicago has a state tax on wages. Columbia has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Columbia is 88% of the national level for the same work, against 105% in Chicago.
Columbia averages 217 sunny days, with July highs around 87°F and January nights around 25°F. Chicago is 189 sunny days, 84°F in July, 20°F in January. Commutes average 20 minutes in Columbia and 33 in Chicago.
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, 193 households moved Chicago → Columbia (about 241 people, average AGI $36,446). 171 households went the other way.
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 Chicago and Columbia changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 377 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,950–$3,650
- Container or pod
- $1,350–$2,500
- Rent a truck
- $600–$1,100
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Dig into Columbia
Questions
Is Columbia cheaper than Chicago after tax and rent?
Yes. Columbia leaves about $945 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,782 in Chicago and $1,020 in Columbia.
Does Columbia have state income tax?
Columbia is in Missouri, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Chicago to Columbia?
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.