Columbus, IN vs South Bend, IN: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in South Bend, IN and Columbus, IN are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Columbus works out to about $74,900 in South Bend, before taxes.
- Housing is 1.2% lower in South Bend, goods 0.1% lower and other services 0.1% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,258 a month in South Bend and $1,380 in Columbus, $1,464 a year less in South Bend (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $238,000 in South Bend and $274,000 in Columbus.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when South Bend was 1.9% less expensive than Columbus.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Columbus and South Bend
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Columbus, IN
- South Bend, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Columbus, IN | South Bend, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.0 | 92.9 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 94.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 75.5 | 74.6 |
| Utilities | 86.6 | 87.7 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 99.2 |
| Category | Columbus | South Bend | South Bend vs Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.0 | 92.9 | −0.2% |
| Goods | 94.3 | 94.2 | −0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 75.5 | 74.6 | −1.2% |
| Utilities | 86.6 | 87.7 | +1.3% |
| Other services | 99.1 | 99.2 | +0.1% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,380 | $1,258 | −8.8% |
| Income needed to afford typical rent (30% rule) | $55,200 | $50,300 | −8.9% |
| Typical home value | $274,000 | $238,000 | −13.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Columbus | $75,000 | $74,900 | −0.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Columbus and South Bend has narrowed since 2008: 8.4 points then, 0.1 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Columbus, IN
- South Bend, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Columbus, IN | South Bend, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 84.0 | 92.4 |
| 2009 | 86.1 | 93.3 |
| 2010 | 90.5 | 92.9 |
| 2011 | 89.0 | 92.2 |
| 2012 | 90.4 | 90.4 |
| 2013 | 88.7 | 92.3 |
| 2014 | 90.3 | 92.0 |
| 2015 | 87.6 | 90.5 |
| 2016 | 87.9 | 91.4 |
| 2017 | 87.3 | 88.6 |
| 2018 | 94.0 | 91.9 |
| 2019 | 93.8 | 92.1 |
| 2020 | 91.4 | 91.5 |
| 2021 | 91.8 | 91.7 |
| 2022 | 90.3 | 92.3 |
| 2023 | 90.2 | 91.4 |
| 2024 | 93.0 | 92.9 |
Goods
- Columbus, IN
- South Bend, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Columbus, IN | South Bend, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 77.2 | 94.6 |
| 2009 | 84.6 | 95.7 |
| 2010 | 93.1 | 96.1 |
| 2011 | 93.4 | 96.0 |
| 2012 | 95.2 | 97.2 |
| 2013 | 94.7 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 95.9 | 98.1 |
| 2015 | 96.1 | 97.6 |
| 2016 | 94.6 | 96.8 |
| 2017 | 94.0 | 95.2 |
| 2018 | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 94.0 | 94.0 |
| 2021 | 94.7 | 94.7 |
| 2022 | 93.1 | 92.9 |
| 2023 | 94.8 | 94.7 |
| 2024 | 94.3 | 94.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Columbus, IN
- South Bend, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Columbus, IN | South Bend, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 77.4 | 75.0 |
| 2009 | 70.4 | 75.8 |
| 2010 | 79.5 | 76.0 |
| 2011 | 74.8 | 78.3 |
| 2012 | 73.7 | 66.2 |
| 2013 | 70.5 | 74.6 |
| 2014 | 75.4 | 71.6 |
| 2015 | 69.0 | 70.5 |
| 2016 | 75.2 | 72.9 |
| 2017 | 73.7 | 64.5 |
| 2018 | 83.4 | 70.5 |
| 2019 | 75.8 | 70.4 |
| 2020 | 70.5 | 73.2 |
| 2021 | 70.2 | 69.6 |
| 2022 | 66.4 | 76.6 |
| 2023 | 63.1 | 71.5 |
| 2024 | 75.5 | 74.6 |
Utilities
- Columbus, IN
- South Bend, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Columbus, IN | South Bend, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 78.3 | 89.4 |
| 2009 | 80.7 | 92.3 |
| 2010 | 81.2 | 86.4 |
| 2011 | 77.3 | 90.3 |
| 2012 | 79.1 | 90.2 |
| 2013 | 81.8 | 89.7 |
| 2014 | 82.8 | 85.6 |
| 2015 | 83.3 | 85.9 |
| 2016 | 85.0 | 84.1 |
| 2017 | 86.3 | 88.9 |
| 2018 | 92.4 | 92.7 |
| 2019 | 90.8 | 90.7 |
| 2020 | 92.1 | 92.3 |
| 2021 | 92.7 | 93.1 |
| 2022 | 88.9 | 88.2 |
| 2023 | 86.3 | 86.1 |
| 2024 | 86.6 | 87.7 |
Other services
- Columbus, IN
- South Bend, IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Columbus, IN | South Bend, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.6 | 98.7 |
| 2009 | 94.2 | 98.5 |
| 2010 | 93.9 | 97.9 |
| 2011 | 91.4 | 95.1 |
| 2012 | 93.8 | 95.8 |
| 2013 | 92.5 | 96.6 |
| 2014 | 92.5 | 95.8 |
| 2015 | 88.9 | 94.0 |
| 2016 | 88.0 | 94.9 |
| 2017 | 87.5 | 93.9 |
| 2018 | 96.1 | 96.1 |
| 2019 | 98.4 | 98.4 |
| 2020 | 97.5 | 97.6 |
| 2021 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| 2022 | 97.5 | 97.6 |
| 2023 | 97.3 | 97.4 |
| 2024 | 99.1 | 99.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,258 in South Bend vs $1,380 in Columbus
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Columbus, IN
- South Bend, IN
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Columbus, IN | South Bend, IN | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $635 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $645 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $633 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $638 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $655 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $656 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $660 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $657 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $672 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $685 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | $698 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | $708 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | $707 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $914 | $730 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $911 | $733 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $927 | $739 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $932 | $732 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $944 | $767 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $962 | $770 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $936 | $756 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $949 | $772 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $944 | $801 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $977 | $825 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $995 | $834 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $963 | $878 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $995 | $916 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,070 | $947 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,081 | $972 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,097 | $982 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,150 | $1,032 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,147 | $1,051 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,160 | $1,058 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,165 | $1,068 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,186 | $1,112 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,201 | $1,137 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,208 | $1,115 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,234 | $1,127 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,262 | $1,142 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,269 | $1,168 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,289 | $1,186 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,297 | $1,189 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,326 | $1,204 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,346 | $1,236 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,340 | $1,232 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,324 | $1,240 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,372 | $1,269 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,380 | $1,258 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $238,000 in South Bend vs $274,000 in Columbus
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Columbus, IN
- South Bend, IN
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Columbus, IN | South Bend, IN | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $140K | $103K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $141K | $105K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $144K | $106K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $146K | $108K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $147K | $110K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $149K | $112K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $149K | $114K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $150K | $117K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $150K | $117K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $152K | $119K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $155K | $121K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $156K | $124K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $158K | $127K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $160K | $129K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $163K | $130K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $165K | $133K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $169K | $136K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $172K | $138K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $174K | $139K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $178K | $142K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $181K | $145K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $184K | $148K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $186K | $150K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $192K | $156K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $197K | $163K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $206K | $171K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $212K | $174K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $217K | $176K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $225K | $186K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $233K | $194K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $234K | $195K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $235K | $195K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $238K | $196K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $244K | $202K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $248K | $206K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $250K | $207K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $254K | $210K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $258K | $215K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $259K | $216K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $261K | $218K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $264K | $221K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $265K | $222K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $267K | $224K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $270K | $226K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $273K | $231K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $273K | $235K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $274K | $238K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.