Uprootmap
Phoenix vs Columbia
Phoenix 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 Phoenix to Columbia
In 2022-2023, 42 households filed a move from Phoenix to Columbia (about 63 people, average adjusted gross income $57,143). 43 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $1,020 in Columbia. Phoenix 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 97% in Phoenix.
Columbia averages 217 sunny days, with July highs around 87°F and January nights around 25°F. Phoenix is 299 sunny days, 106°F in July, 46°F in January. Commutes average 20 minutes in Columbia and 26 in Phoenix.
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, 42 households moved Phoenix → Columbia (about 63 people, average AGI $57,143). 43 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 Phoenix and Columbia changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 1,388 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $3,100–$5,850
- Container or pod
- $2,200–$4,150
- Rent a truck
- $1,250–$2,400
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Dig into Columbia
Questions
Is Columbia cheaper than Phoenix after tax and rent?
Yes. Columbia leaves about $403 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $1,020 in Columbia.
Does Columbia have state income tax?
Columbia is in Missouri, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Phoenix 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.