Columbia Heights, MN vs Papillion, NE: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Papillion, NE has a modeled overall cost index 15.9% lower than Columbia Heights, MN.

Columbia Heights, MN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,530 / month
Papillion, NE · modeled 2BR rent: $1,470 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Columbia Heights, MN and Papillion, NE using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Columbia Heights, MN

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $1,049/month in Papillion, NE

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $137,418 in Papillion, NE

Regional cost estimates: Columbia Heights, MN uses Minneapolis, MN. Papillion, NE uses Omaha, NE. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 15.9%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$1,049

Savings

Annual Impact

$12.6K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Columbia Heights, MN

Population:22K

Cost Index:

101.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$289K

Papillion, NE

Population:24K

Cost Index:

85.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$304K

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Columbia Heights, MN

The North Star State

22K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Minnesota, this city has a population of 22K residents.

Papillion, NE

The Cornhusker State

24K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Nebraska, this city has a population of 24K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Columbia Heights, MN vs Papillion, NE

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Columbia Heights, MN	Papillion, NE	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,353/mo	$1,763/mo	↓ $591less	25.1%
Other	$1,653/mo	$1,511/mo	↓ $142less	8.6%
Transportation	$1,285/mo	$1,156/mo	↓ $129less	10.0%
Groceries	$991/mo	$914/mo	↓ $77.59less	7.8%
Healthcare	$728/mo	$656/mo	↓ $72.04less	9.9%
All Utilities	$489/mo	$452/mo	↓ $37.13less	7.6%

Housing

↓ 25.1%

Columbia Heights, MN

$2,353

Papillion, NE

$1,763

Difference

$591

less

Other

↓ 8.6%

Columbia Heights, MN

$1,653

Papillion, NE

$1,511

Difference

$142

less

Transportation

↓ 10.0%

Columbia Heights, MN

$1,285

Papillion, NE

$1,156

Difference

$129

less

Groceries

↓ 7.8%

Columbia Heights, MN

$991

Papillion, NE

$914

Difference

$77.59

less

Healthcare

↓ 9.9%

Columbia Heights, MN

$728

Papillion, NE

$656

Difference

$72.04

less

All Utilities

↓ 7.6%

Columbia Heights, MN

$489

Papillion, NE

$452

Difference

$37.13

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,110

To$1,170

↑ $60.00

1 Bed

From$1,260

To$1,230

↓ $30.00

2 Bed

From$1,530

To$1,470

↓ $60.00

3 Bed

From$2,020

To$1,950

↓ $70.00

Columbia Heights, MNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,260–$1,260/mo

Papillion, NEZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,110–$1,380/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Columbia Heights, MN

$6,451

Monthly in Papillion, NE

$1,049

Difference

Home Values

Columbia Heights

Papillion

$289K

Median Value

$304K

↑ +1.2%

YoY Change

↑ +1.8%

↑ +19.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +34.6%

$289K

Price Range

$283K - $409K

Homes in Papillion are 5% more expensive than Columbia Heights

Calculate payment - Columbia Heights Calculate payment - Papillion

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $1.1K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$91.32

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.7%

Rate difference

Columbia Heights, MN

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Minnesota State Tax

Effective: 7.0%

$10.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.6%

$47.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,546/month

$102.6K

Papillion, NE

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Nebraska State Tax

Effective: 6.2%

$9.3K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.9%

$46.3K

Take-Home Pay

$8,638/month

$103.7K

Additional Tax Information

Columbia Heights, MN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.0%

Property Tax:1.1%

Papillion, NE Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%

Property Tax:1.8%

💡 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

Columbia Heights

Papillion

42 Good

Air Quality

45 Good

66.4%

Good Air Days

63.7%

98 High

Climate Risk

96 High

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+3.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

35 days

▲+3.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+3.4°F

14 days

Heat Days >95°F

35 days

Before moving from Columbia Heights, MN to Papillion, NE

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Papillion, NE for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Columbia Heights, MN. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Columbia Heights to Papillion moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Papillion, NE by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Columbia Heights, MN vs Papillion, NE

How do the cost estimates for Columbia Heights, MN and Papillion, NE compare?

Papillion, NE has a modeled overall cost index 15.9% lower than Columbia Heights, MN. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Columbia Heights, MN, the model estimates $137,418 in Papillion, NE. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Columbia Heights, MN and Papillion, NE?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,530/month in Columbia Heights, MN and $1,470/month in Papillion, NE. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Minnesota and Nebraska on TaxTakeHome.com