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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

๐Ÿ“ Altoona, PA โ€” ZIP-level rent data ยท COL adjusted from Pittsburgh, PA area

$

Numbers update automatically as you type

You'd save $25.81/month moving to Columbus, OH

$150.0K in your current city equals $149.7K in Columbus, OH

Rent data from HUD ZIP-level estimates ยท COL index from area
Overall Cost
โ†“ 0.3%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$25.81
Savings
Annual Impact
$310
Per year

Based on monthly living costs (rent, groceries, utilities, transport, healthcare). Home purchase prices shown separately below.

Altoona, PA

Population:43K
Cost Index:100
Median Home:$133K

Columbus, OH

Population:906K
Cost Index:100
Median Home:$263K

Altoona, PA

The Keystone State

43K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 43K residents.

Columbus, OH

The Buckeye State

906K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Ohio, this city has a population of 906K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Annual spending: Altoona, PA vs Columbus, OH

โšกAll Utilities
โ†“ 24.0%
Altoona, PA
$611
Columbus, OH
$464
Difference
$147
less
๐Ÿš—Transportation
โ†‘ 10.7%
Altoona, PA
$1,234
Columbus, OH
$1,366
Difference
$132
more
๐ŸฅHealthcare
โ†‘ 14.5%
Altoona, PA
$531
Columbus, OH
$607
Difference
$76.68
more
๐Ÿ Housing
โ†‘ 3.8%
Altoona, PA
$1,978
Columbus, OH
$2,053
Difference
$75.24
more
๐Ÿ“ฆOther
โ†“ 4.5%
Altoona, PA
$1,631
Columbus, OH
$1,557
Difference
$73.89
less
๐Ÿ›’Groceries
โ†“ 2.7%
Altoona, PA
$997
Columbus, OH
$969
Difference
$27.24
less

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Local Income Taxes

Columbus, OH: Columbus Municipal Income Tax$3,750/yr (2.5%)

Altoona, PA has no local income tax.

Local taxes are in addition to state income tax. Not all cities levy local income taxes.

๐Ÿ Rent Comparison

Studio
From$797
To$1,020
โ†‘ $223
1 Bed
From$944
To$1,100
โ†‘ $156
2 Bed
From$1,131
To$1,315
โ†‘ $184
3 Bed
From$1,451
To$1,575
โ†‘ $124
Altoona, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $930โ€“$930/mo

Columbus, OHZIP-level data

1BR range: $870โ€“$1,790/mo

๐Ÿ’ก Note: Rent prices are based on HUD Fair Market Rent data and represent median costs. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$6,980
Monthly in Altoona, PA
$7,017
Monthly in Columbus, OH
$36.62
Difference

Home Values

Altoona
Columbus
$133K
Median Value
$263K
โ†‘ +3.8%
YoY Change
โ†“ -0.4%
โ†‘ +13.7%
5-Year Change
โ†‘ +28.8%
$129K - $138K
Price Range
$95K - $406K

Homes in Columbus are 97% more expensive than Altoona

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
โ†‘ $178
Per year
Monthly Difference
$14.81
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.1%
Rate difference

Altoona, PA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Pennsylvania State Tax
Effective: 3.1%
$4.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.7%
$41.6K
Take-Home Pay
$9,032/month
$108.4K

Columbus, OH

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Ohio State Tax
Effective: 3.0%
$4.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.6%
$41.4K
Take-Home Pay
$9,047/month
$108.6K

Additional Tax Information

Altoona, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%
Property Tax:1.4%

Columbus, OH Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:1.6%

๐Ÿ’ก Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Altoona
Columbus
52 Moderate
Air Quality
53 Moderate
47.8%
Good Air Days
41.3%
98 High
Climate Risk
98 High
๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒช๐Ÿ’จ
Top Hazards
๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒก๐ŸŒช
โ–ฒ+3.0ยฐF
2050 Outlook
โ–ฒ+3.1ยฐF
12 days
Heat Days >95ยฐF
18 days
โ–ฒ+3.0ยฐF
2050 Outlook
โ–ฒ+3.1ยฐF
12 days
Heat Days >95ยฐF
18 days

๐Ÿ’ฐ See how taxes change too โ€” compare take-home pay between Pennsylvania and Ohio on TaxTakeHome.com

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