City comparison
Yes. Columbus's crime index is 164 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 140 versus 204, using 2024 FBI data for Columbus and 2024-2025 FBI data for Colorado Springs.
Columbus is cheaper. Median rent is $1,295 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
The income gap between Columbus and Colorado Springs is significant: $66,082 median household versus $84,818. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,295 in Columbus and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Columbus costs less and Colorado Springs pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Columbus at $1,295 average has pockets that run $1,095 and others at $1,695: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Columbus and Colorado Springs are 1,165 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,295 a month in Columbus to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $353 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $66,082 in Columbus to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $18,736 (28%).
The crime index goes from 164 in Columbus to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 36 points (22%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Columbus are 1,165 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,295 a month in Columbus, down $353 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $66,082 in Columbus, down $18,736 (22%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 164 in Columbus, down 36 points (18%).
Columbus, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Columbus and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Columbus rent is 21% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Columbus
Winner$1,295/mo
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,295 a month in Columbus versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Columbus is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $353/month back in your pocket ($4,236/year). Over five years that's $21,180 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Colorado Springs, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Columbus is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Columbus? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
28% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 28% higher than Columbus
Columbus
$66,082
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $66,082 in Columbus, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Colorado Springs (about $18,736 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Colorado Springs is the stronger labor market on paper. Columbus can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
18% lower crime
Columbus's crime index is 18% lower than Colorado Springs
Columbus
Winner164 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Columbus's crime index is 164 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% lower in Columbus. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Columbus is the easier city. Colorado Springs can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Colorado Springs weather is 9% more comfortable than Columbus
Columbus
53°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 66/100
Colorado Springs
Winner55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Columbus averages about 53°F (60°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs). Columbus averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Colorado Springs scores 9% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Columbus if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Columbus is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 21% cheaper here at about $1,295 a month. Choose Columbus if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Columbus is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 18% lower than Colorado Springs (164 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 28% higher ($84,818), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 55°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Columbus at $1,295/month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs ($353 apart). Colorado Springs median income is $84,818 against $66,082 in Columbus, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Columbus rent at $1,295/month is still below Colorado Springs's $1,648, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 45/100 in Columbus and 39/100 in Colorado Springs.
If housing cost drives your move, Columbus is the stronger match ($1,295/month rent against $1,648). If an employer or family tie already points to Colorado Springs, treat $1,648/month rent and $84,818 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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