Example household · Monroe, MI · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

Columbus skyline

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Monroe vs Columbus

Monroe and Columbus

Photo: Paul Wasneski / Wikimedia, Public domain

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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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 Monroe to Columbus

In 2022-2023, 29 households filed a move from Monroe to Columbus (about 35 people, average adjusted gross income $40,517). Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $940 in Monroe and $1,176 in Columbus. Monroe 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 98% in Monroe.

Columbus averages 179 sunny days, with July highs around 85°F and January nights around 21°F. Monroe is 176 sunny days, 82°F in July, 25°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Columbus and 27 in Monroe.

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.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 29 households moved Monroe → Columbus (about 35 people, average AGI $40,517). 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 Monroe and Columbus changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 167 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

Movers in Columbus and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Columbus cheaper than Monroe after tax and rent?

No. Columbus leaves about $122 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $940 in Monroe 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 Monroe 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.