Hinesville, GA vs Columbia, SC: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Columbia, SC and Hinesville, GA are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Hinesville works out to about $74,800 in Columbia, before taxes.
- Housing is 0.0% lower in Columbia, goods 0.1% higher and other services 0.4% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,557 a month in Columbia and $1,745 in Hinesville, $2,256 a year less in Columbia (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $253,000 in Columbia and $258,000 in Hinesville.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Columbia was 2.5% less expensive than Hinesville.
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 Hinesville and Columbia
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Hinesville, GA
- Columbia, SC
All items Hinesville, GA: 93.9 Columbia, SC: 93.7
Goods Hinesville, GA: 96.3 Columbia, SC: 96.3
Housing (rents) Hinesville, GA: 79.5 Columbia, SC: 79.5
Utilities Hinesville, GA: 86.8 Columbia, SC: 88.3
Other services Hinesville, GA: 98.7 Columbia, SC: 98.3
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Hinesville, GA | Columbia, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.9 | 93.7 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 79.5 | 79.5 |
| Utilities | 86.8 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 98.3 |
| Category | Hinesville | Columbia | Columbia vs Hinesville |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 93.9 | 93.7 | −0.3% |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.3 | +0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 79.5 | 79.5 | 0.0% |
| Utilities | 86.8 | 88.3 | +1.7% |
| Other services | 98.7 | 98.3 | −0.4% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,745 | $1,557 | −10.8% |
| Typical home value | $258,000 | $253,000 | −1.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Hinesville | $75,000 | $74,800 | −0.3% |
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 Hinesville and Columbia has narrowed since 2008: 3.0 points then, 0.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Hinesville, GA
- Columbia, SC
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Hinesville, GA | Columbia, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.5 | 93.5 |
| 2009 | 86.1 | 92.3 |
| 2010 | 91.4 | 94.1 |
| 2011 | 92.1 | 95.3 |
| 2012 | 90.7 | 94.4 |
| 2013 | 92.9 | 94.7 |
| 2014 | 92.0 | 94.1 |
| 2015 | 89.8 | 94.7 |
| 2016 | 91.8 | 94.6 |
| 2017 | 89.9 | 93.6 |
| 2018 | 93.7 | 92.3 |
| 2019 | 93.4 | 91.0 |
| 2020 | 89.8 | 89.8 |
| 2021 | 93.5 | 93.2 |
| 2022 | 94.4 | 93.4 |
| 2023 | 94.2 | 93.2 |
| 2024 | 93.9 | 93.7 |
Goods
- Hinesville, GA
- Columbia, SC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Hinesville, GA | Columbia, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 94.0 | 97.1 |
| 2009 | 91.1 | 94.7 |
| 2010 | 96.2 | 96.8 |
| 2011 | 94.2 | 96.4 |
| 2012 | 90.8 | 95.9 |
| 2013 | 93.2 | 96.4 |
| 2014 | 91.5 | 96.7 |
| 2015 | 90.9 | 95.6 |
| 2016 | 92.3 | 96.4 |
| 2017 | 91.6 | 96.1 |
| 2018 | 95.6 | 95.3 |
| 2019 | 95.4 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.2 | 95.4 |
| 2021 | 95.8 | 96.1 |
| 2022 | 95.0 | 94.5 |
| 2023 | 96.3 | 95.9 |
| 2024 | 96.3 | 96.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Hinesville, GA
- Columbia, SC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Hinesville, GA | Columbia, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 75.4 | 76.2 |
| 2009 | 67.3 | 76.5 |
| 2010 | 79.4 | 78.1 |
| 2011 | 83.2 | 81.2 |
| 2012 | 74.7 | 77.2 |
| 2013 | 82.2 | 78.7 |
| 2014 | 78.4 | 75.1 |
| 2015 | 72.6 | 78.2 |
| 2016 | 80.1 | 75.0 |
| 2017 | 76.0 | 74.7 |
| 2018 | 83.0 | 74.1 |
| 2019 | 84.7 | 71.2 |
| 2020 | 68.3 | 69.6 |
| 2021 | 75.6 | 74.8 |
| 2022 | 81.5 | 78.8 |
| 2023 | 82.5 | 78.4 |
| 2024 | 79.5 | 79.5 |
Utilities
- Hinesville, GA
- Columbia, SC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Hinesville, GA | Columbia, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 80.6 | 86.7 |
| 2009 | 80.7 | 88.0 |
| 2010 | 81.6 | 90.3 |
| 2011 | 86.8 | 91.8 |
| 2012 | 91.6 | 95.2 |
| 2013 | 90.2 | 94.9 |
| 2014 | 92.9 | 97.2 |
| 2015 | 94.2 | 97.2 |
| 2016 | 93.2 | 96.6 |
| 2017 | 93.7 | 94.0 |
| 2018 | 87.4 | 92.9 |
| 2019 | 89.4 | 95.5 |
| 2020 | 89.0 | 93.2 |
| 2021 | 88.7 | 90.3 |
| 2022 | 89.7 | 88.8 |
| 2023 | 85.0 | 85.4 |
| 2024 | 86.8 | 88.3 |
Other services
- Hinesville, GA
- Columbia, SC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Hinesville, GA | Columbia, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.2 | 98.1 |
| 2009 | 92.0 | 97.2 |
| 2010 | 93.5 | 99.0 |
| 2011 | 94.4 | 100.3 |
| 2012 | 97.9 | 100.3 |
| 2013 | 97.5 | 100.1 |
| 2014 | 98.4 | 99.9 |
| 2015 | 97.5 | 100.4 |
| 2016 | 96.1 | 101.3 |
| 2017 | 94.5 | 99.5 |
| 2018 | 97.5 | 97.9 |
| 2019 | 95.6 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.2 | 95.0 |
| 2021 | 99.4 | 99.9 |
| 2022 | 99.5 | 99.4 |
| 2023 | 98.6 | 97.9 |
| 2024 | 98.7 | 98.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,557 in Columbia vs $1,745 in Hinesville
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Hinesville, GA
- Columbia, SC
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Hinesville, GA | Columbia, SC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $941 | $875 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $942 | $885 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $939 | $890 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $937 | $892 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $943 | $900 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $945 | $913 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $950 | $911 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $952 | $913 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $958 | $928 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $959 | $939 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $972 | $947 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $973 | $947 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $980 | $964 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $987 | $979 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $989 | $982 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $989 | $993 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,006 | $1,007 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,023 | $1,025 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,025 | $1,023 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,022 | $1,022 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,047 | $1,046 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,051 | $1,063 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,103 | $1,075 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,108 | $1,084 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,154 | $1,114 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,221 | $1,166 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,332 | $1,213 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,375 | $1,240 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,401 | $1,257 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,476 | $1,307 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,494 | $1,332 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,496 | $1,337 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,538 | $1,351 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,553 | $1,387 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,510 | $1,411 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,557 | $1,408 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,576 | $1,416 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,647 | $1,447 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,664 | $1,460 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,669 | $1,473 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,660 | $1,502 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,659 | $1,516 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,689 | $1,523 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,710 | $1,531 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,743 | $1,541 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,737 | $1,537 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,745 | $1,557 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $253,000 in Columbia vs $258,000 in Hinesville
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Hinesville, GA
- Columbia, SC
- 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
| Hinesville, GA | Columbia, SC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $137K | $132K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $137K | $133K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $138K | $134K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $138K | $136K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $138K | $138K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $136K | $139K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $135K | $140K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $134K | $142K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $134K | $144K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $135K | $145K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $134K | $146K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $136K | $148K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $138K | $150K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $140K | $151K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $142K | $153K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $145K | $155K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $147K | $157K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $148K | $159K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $150K | $160K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $152K | $163K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $154K | $166K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $156K | $168K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $160K | $171K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $165K | $177K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $169K | $184K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $174K | $193K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $182K | $199K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $190K | $204K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $203K | $215K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $214K | $228K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $221K | $233K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $225K | $234K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $228K | $233K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $233K | $236K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $239K | $240K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $243K | $242K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $246K | $243K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $249K | $246K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $251K | $248K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $253K | $248K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $257K | $251K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $257K | $249K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $257K | $249K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $258K | $251K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $259K | $253K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $258K | $253K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $258K | $253K | $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.