Chandler vs Columbus: Cost of Living Comparison

How does the cost of living in Chandler, Arizona compare to Columbus, Ohio? Below is a side-by-side breakdown of housing costs, income, wages, and taxes using official government data.

Summary: Columbus is the more affordable city overall. Housing costs are 99% higher in Chandler compared to Columbus, while rent is 44% higher. State income tax is 2.5% in AZ vs 3.5% in OH.

MetricChandler, AZColumbus, OHDiff
Housing
Median Home Value$423,900$212,500+99.5%
Median Monthly Rent$1,675$1,161+44.3%
Income
Median Household Income$99,374$62,994+57.8%
Per Capita Income$48,987$35,640+37.4%
Taxes
State Income Tax Rate2.5%3.5%-28.6%
Combined Sales Tax8.4%7.2%+15.6%
Demographics
Population275,618902,449-69.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022), Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. State/local tax rates from Tax Foundation (2024).

Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Chandler

Monthly Mortgage (P&I)
$2,117
Property Tax
$389/mo
Insurance
$124/mo
Total Monthly Cost to Own
$2,629
Renting saves $954/mo
Based on $1,675/mo rent vs $2,629/mo ownership cost. Does not include equity buildup, maintenance, or tax deductions.

Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.

Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Columbus

Monthly Mortgage (P&I)
$1,061
Property Tax
$195/mo
Insurance
$62/mo
Total Monthly Cost to Own
$1,318
Renting saves $157/mo
Based on $1,161/mo rent vs $1,318/mo ownership cost. Does not include equity buildup, maintenance, or tax deductions.

Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.

Key Takeaways

Methodology

This comparison uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2022) for median household income, median home value, median gross rent, per capita income, and population. State and local tax rates are sourced from the Tax Foundation. Mortgage rates are from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (updated weekly).

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