Columbia, SC vs Hampton, VA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Hampton, VA has a modeled overall cost index 7.9% higher than Columbia, SC.

Columbia, SC · modeled 2BR rent: $1,375 / month
Hampton, VA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,580 / 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, SC and Hampton, VA 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, SC

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $755/month in Hampton, VA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $159,061 in Hampton, VA

Regional cost estimates: Columbia, SC uses Charlotte, NC. Hampton, VA uses Norfolk, VA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 7.9%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$755

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$9.1K

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, SC

Population:142K

Cost Index:

92.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$229K

Hampton, VA

Population:137K

Cost Index:

100.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$278K

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Columbia, SC

The Palmetto State

142K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in South Carolina, this city has a population of 142K residents.

Hampton, VA

The Old Dominion State

137K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Virginia, this city has a population of 137K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Columbia, SC vs Hampton, VA

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, SC	Hampton, VA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,274/mo	$2,729/mo	↑ $455more	20.0%
Transportation	$1,230/mo	$1,376/mo	↑ $146more	11.8%
Other	$1,748/mo	$1,830/mo	↑ $82.22more	4.7%
All Utilities	$544/mo	$615/mo	↑ $71.20more	13.1%
Healthcare	$668/mo	$677/mo	↑ $8.90more	1.3%
Groceries	$1,036/mo	$1,028/mo	↓ $8.03less	0.8%

Housing

↑ 20.0%

Columbia, SC

$2,274

Hampton, VA

$2,729

Difference

$455

Transportation

↑ 11.8%

Columbia, SC

$1,230

Hampton, VA

$1,376

Difference

$146

Other

↑ 4.7%

Columbia, SC

$1,748

Hampton, VA

$1,830

Difference

$82.22

All Utilities

↑ 13.1%

Columbia, SC

$544

Hampton, VA

$615

Difference

$71.20

Healthcare

↑ 1.3%

Columbia, SC

$668

Hampton, VA

$677

Difference

$8.90

Groceries

↓ 0.8%

Columbia, SC

$1,036

Hampton, VA

$1,028

Difference

$8.03

less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,110

To$1,380

↑ $270

1 Bed

From$1,255

To$1,390

↑ $135

2 Bed

From$1,375

To$1,580

↑ $205

3 Bed

From$1,750

To$2,190

↑ $440

Columbia, SCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,060–$1,610/mo

Hampton, VAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,310–$2,030/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, SC

$8,255

Monthly in Hampton, VA

$755

Difference

Home Values

Columbia

Hampton

$229K

Median Value

$278K

↑ +0.8%

YoY Change

↓ -0.8%

↑ +41.8%

5-Year Change

↑ +38.1%

$124K - $375K

Price Range

$229K - $300K

Homes in Hampton are 21% more expensive than Columbia

Calculate payment - Columbia Calculate payment - Hampton

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $1.6K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$132

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

1.1%

Rate difference

Columbia, SC

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

South Carolina State Tax

Effective: 6.6%

$10.0K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 31.3%

$47.0K

Take-Home Pay

$8,586/month

$103.0K

Hampton, VA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Virginia State Tax

Effective: 5.6%

$8.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.3%

$45.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,718/month

$104.6K

Additional Tax Information

Columbia, SC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.4%

Property Tax:0.6%

Hampton, VA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.7%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 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

Hampton

51 Moderate

Air Quality

32 Good

46.2%

Good Air Days

85.8%

97 High

Climate Risk

81 Moderate

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌅

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

36 days

Heat Days >95°F

21 days

▲+2.9°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

36 days

Heat Days >95°F

21 days

Before moving from Columbia, SC to Hampton, VA

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Hampton, VA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Columbia, SC. 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 to Hampton moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Columbia, SC vs Hampton, VA

How do the cost estimates for Columbia, SC and Hampton, VA compare?

Hampton, VA has a modeled overall cost index 7.9% higher than Columbia, SC. 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, SC, the model estimates $159,061 in Hampton, VA. 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, SC and Hampton, VA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,375/month in Columbia, SC and $1,580/month in Hampton, VA. 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 South Carolina and Virginia on TaxTakeHome.com