Advantages & Disadvantages of Moving to Columbus

You think about moving to Columbus?

While Columbus can be a great city to live in, you should also know various drawbacks related to it.

Hence, make sure to have a look at all the pros and cons of living in Columbus in this article to avoid common mistakes and to make the best possible decision in this regard.

Living in Columbus – Overview

Advantages of Living in Columbus

1. Living costs are relatively low in Columbus
2. Rents are still reasonable
3. Property prices are much lower compared to other major cities
4. Housing shortage is not a big problem yet
5. Competition in the housing market is rather low
6. Relatively easy to find a good place to stay
7. You don’t have to fear losing your home that much
8. People in Columbus are friendly
9. Columbus is a tolerant city
10. People often help you out
11. People feel welcome from all over the world
12. You can meet people from many different cultures
13. Relatively easy to socialize in Columbus
14. You can enjoy decent public transport near the city center
15. Columbus is a bike-friendly city
16. You may not need a car to get around
17. You can get most things you need within walking distance
18. You don’t have to drive to other cities to get what you need
19. Columbus is not as crowded as other major cities
20. Traffic is not a big problem in Columbus yet
21. Relatively easy to find a parking lot in Columbus
22. It is relatively easy to get from one end of Columbus to the other
23. Columbus has a pretty low unemployment rate
24. Many good companies to work for
25. Highly-qualified people have an easy time finding a job
26. Crime rates are moderately low compared to other major cities
27. Decent average household income in Columbus
28. Average person can still make a decent living in Columbus
29. Columbus offers decent air quality
30. You can spend lots of time in nature
31. You can enjoy the amenities that come along with big city life
32. You can experience real seasons
33. Population of Columbus is growing
34. Decent selection of bars and clubs in Columbus
35. Decent future outlook for Columbus
36. Columbus become increasingly attractive to people from all over the US
37. Columbus is still underrated
38. You will find enough recreational space to relax in Columbus
39. Columbus can be an interesting place to invest in property
40. People in Columbus are not as shallow as in many other cities
41. Columbus is a great place to live for every age group
42. You may never leave the Columbus region ever again
43. You don’t have to make that much money to afford a decent lifestyle in Columbus
44. Financial pressure is lower compared to living in more expensive cities
45. You can build a decent business network in Columbus
46. Columbus international airport makes it easy to get around

Living costs are relatively low in Columbus

One advantage of moving to Columbus is that living costs are pretty low compared to other major cities.

For instance, if you go to the movies, you will often pay far less compared to people living in New York City and this is not only true for watching a movie but also for drinks and many other entertainment options.

Thus, you can save lots of money on things for daily life in Columbus and will have more money to save and invest for retirement.

Rents are still reasonable

Another reason for moving to Columbus is that rents are pretty low compared to other big cities in the US and you therefore don’t have to spend that much money on housing but will have more money left for other nice things.

Property prices are much lower compared to other major cities

Moving to Columbus can also make sense for you if you want to buy a property and don’t want to rent a place in the long run since property prices are also pretty low and the average person is often able to afford a decent home and doesn’t have to spend as much as people living in more expensive regions.

Housing shortage is not a big problem yet

In general, demand for housing is also rather low in Columbus since it is just not the most popular city and you will therefore find more than enough housing opportunities and can just choose among the ones that fit your personal preferences.

Competition in the housing market is rather low

You also don’t have to compete for housing with as many other people compared to people living in San José or in other more popular cities in the US and this means that you will not have to spend lots of time and money on finding a good place to stay.

Relatively easy to find a good place to stay

While you might need a great résumé and an excellent financial standing for renting a flat in other major cities, landlords are less demanding in Columbus in this regard and you may therefore have an easier time finding your dream home.

You don’t have to fear losing your home that much

Since competition for housing is rather low, you also don’t have to fear getting evicted since landlords will often try to compromise with you to find the best possible solution in the long run so that both parties are happy and can make a bargain for many years to come.

People in Columbus are friendly

Another reason to move to Columbus is that people are friendly and open and you will therefore have a rather easy time making new friends once you move to Columbus and don’t have to worry about getting socially isolated, at least if you are open and tolerant yourself and also know how to behave.

Columbus is a tolerant city

Not only are people in Columbus friendly, but most of them are also pretty tolerant and don’t care from what part of the world you come from as long as you are a great guy or gal and people really enjoy hanging out with you.

People often help you out

You can also count on your friends in Columbus in case you get into trouble and urgently need support to get out of your mess.

Sure, this is not true for everyone.

However, the majority of your friends will do their best to help you out so that you can overcome difficult periods of your life.

People feel welcome from all over the world

Since Columbus is a pretty tolerant place, people are welcome from all over the world and this gives you the opportunity to talk to many interesting people and to really see the world from a different perspective.

You can meet people from many different cultures

Since Columbus is a multicultural place and attracts people from all over the world, you can also experience many different cultures and can also try many new foods.

In turn, you may be able to learn a lot in this regard and may also be able to become a better cook in the long run.

Relatively easy to socialize in Columbus

Another upside to living in Columbus is that it is also pretty easy to socialize in this city.

There are just so many places to hang out with other people and since people are friendly and outgoing, you can also just start conversations while you wait at the bus stop and make many new social contacts in a completely natural manner in the long run.

You can enjoy decent public transport near the city center

Columbus also provides decent public transport, at least near the city center.

Hence, it is pretty easy to get around if you live close to the center and can do so in the most efficient manner so that you don’t have to waste lots of time in this regard.

Columbus is a bike-friendly city

If you don’t want to rely on public transport, you can also get around by bike instead since Columbus is a pretty bike-friendly city and you will have many bike lanes so that you can get around by bike in a fast and efficient manner and this is also good for your fitness at the same time.

You may not need a car to get around

Since you can get around by public transport or bike, you may not need a car if you live close to the city center since distances are often pretty short and you may even just walk for a little bit to get from A to B.

You can get most things you need within walking distance

Another benefit of living in Columbus is that you will also find most things for daily life within walking distance and don’t have to search for long to get what you are looking for.

You don’t have to drive to other cities to get what you need

Since Columbus is a big city and provides everything you need, you also don’t have to drive to other cities to get what you are looking for as would be the case if you lived in smaller cities or villages.

Columbus is not as crowded as other major cities

While Columbus is a big city, it is still not that crowded yet and compared to living in Los Angeles, you will have much more space for yourself and will also run into people less frequently which enables you to spend lots of time on your own and this can be really helpful, especially during times when you have to figure out how to solve complex problems and don’t want to get distracted by other people.

Traffic is not a big problem in Columbus yet

Another advantage of moving to Columbus is that traffic is not a big problem yet and you can therefore get from A to B by car in a pretty efficient manner compared to other cities where you often get stuck in traffic jams and have to waste lots of time in this regard.

Relatively easy to find a parking lot in Columbus

Since traffic is not a big problem yet, it is also relatively easy to find a parking lot in Columbus and while many other people living in San Diego or other big cities often struggle in this regard, you can save lots of time and plenty of nerves in the long run.

It is relatively easy to get from one end of Columbus to the other

Since Columbus is much smaller than other big metropolitan areas, you can also get from one end to the other without having to spend lots of time on it and it is therefore pretty easy for you to visit your friends from different parts of the city.

Columbus has a pretty low unemployment rate

Another reason to move to Columbus is that unemployment rates are pretty low and the average person with solid education often has a hard time finding a decent job and you therefore don’t have to worry about getting laid off that much since chances are that you would find a new job pretty soon.

Many good companies to work for

There are also many big corporations to work for in Columbus and if you have decent education, you can find decent jobs in many different fields and industries.

Highly-qualified people have an easy time finding a job

The job market in Columbus is especially favorable for highly-qualified people with expertise in the IT sector since people are greatly needed in this industry and if you have expertise in this field, chances are that you will have almost freedom of choice regarding whom to work for.

Crime rates are moderately low compared to other major cities

While Columbus has a slightly above-average crime rate, it still has lower crime rates compared to many other major cities and Columbus is therefore a reasonably safe place to live from a relative perspective.

Decent average household income in Columbus

People in Columbus can also make really good money and average incomes are slightly above national average.

Consequently, since property prices are rather low, people in Columbus often have more than enough money to spend on other things apart from housing.

Average person can still make a decent living in Columbus

In contrast to many other big and expensive cities where the average person often struggles to make a living and often needs a second job to pay his or her bills, the average person in Columbus can still make a decent living and can even afford some luxury.

Columbus offers decent air quality

Compared to other major cities in the US, Columbus also has pretty decent air quality and this is not only great for your overall quality of life since you will be more likely to spend enough time outdoors, but it is also great for your health since it reduces your risk of suffering from serious pulmonary issues in the long run.

You can spend lots of time in nature

Another benefit of moving to Columbus is that you can also spend lots of time in nature.

In fact, you can go fishing, swimming, hiking, hunting and do many other things since Columbus is surrounded by nice lakes and forests.

You can enjoy the amenities that come along with big city life

By moving to Columbus, you can also benefit from the many amenities that come along with living in a big city and your life will just be much more convenient compared to living in smaller towns where you often struggle to find what you are looking for and have to drive to bigger cities to get all the stuff you need to stay happy and motivated.

You can experience real seasons

Since you will have real winters, you can also experience real seasons in Columbus and this can be really great and interesting if you are the kind of person who doesn’t like the heat all year long.

Population of Columbus is growing

Another indication that Columbus might be a great place to live in is that population has been growing significantly over the past decade and this trend will likely also continue in the future since the Columbus region becomes increasingly attractive to people from all over the US and even the world.

Decent selection of bars and clubs in Columbus

While you will not find the same quality of nightlife in Columbus as you would do in NYC, you will still have decent bars and clubs to choose from and can party until the early morning.

Decent future outlook for Columbus

Since population in Columbus is growing and Columbus is also a pretty big city and an important economic region, chances are that it will be an important place to live and work for many decades to come and you don’t have to worry that too many people will leave the region.

Columbus become increasingly attractive to people from all over the US

Over the past years, Columbus has gained in popularity and while it is still far less popular than other major cities, it may become an attractive place in the future and it may make sense to move to Columbus now before this happens to benefit from the currently pretty low property prices.

Columbus is still underrated

Many experts also say that Columbus is still pretty underrated. In fact, you can find many amenities you are used to from living in a big city while you still don’t have to spend lots of money on housing yet and this can be a great deal for you since you can save and invest lots of money and don’t have to spend a high fraction of your disposable income on rent or mortgage rates yet.

You will find enough recreational space to relax in Columbus

Another upside to moving to Columbus is that you will also find many recreational spaces to relax, both outside and within city borders and this can be really great since you can just reload your batteries for the stressful times yet to come.

Columbus can be an interesting place to invest in property

Since property prices are still pretty low, Columbus can also be a great place to invest in property since you can often make a real bargain and since the Columbus region may become increasingly popular just a few years from now, you may be able to benefit from increasing property prices in the future.

People in Columbus are not as shallow as in many other cities

People in Columbus are pretty honest and real and you can therefore find real friends instead of just having shallow conversations as would be the case in many other cities.

Columbus is a great place to live for every age group

Columbus is also a great place to live for the young as well as for the old since there are many things to do for every age group and generations get along well with each other most of the time.

You may never leave the Columbus region ever again

Since every age group finds things to do in Columbus, you may never have an incentive to leave the Columbus region ever again and may rather stay in this region for the rest of your life and can avoid the stress that comes along with moving on a regular basis.

You don’t have to make that much money to afford a decent lifestyle in Columbus

Since property prices and living costs are reasonably low, you also don’t have to make as much money to live a decent lifestyle compared to many other major cities in the US and you will therefore also not have to work that hard and can spend more time with your family.

Financial pressure is lower compared to living in more expensive cities

Since living costs are rather low, you will also not have as much financial pressure compared to other more expensive cities and can enjoy your life much more since you will be less stressed and will have more energy in general.

You can build a decent business network in Columbus

Since there are many big corporations in Columbus and unemployment rate is relatively high, Columbus attracts highly-qualified people from all over the US and this gives you the opportunity to connect with important people and you can therefore also build a strong business network in the long run.

Columbus international airport makes it easy to get around

Since Columbus has an international airport, you will also have a pretty easy time getting around since you can just fly to many foreign countries without having to deal with layovers and can therefore use your time in the most efficient manner.

Now that you know all the upsides to moving to Columbus, it is time to also talk about all the issues that come along with it to give you a more realistic picture of reality so that you can better decide whether you still want to live in Columbus or rather want to move to a different place instead.

Disadvantages of Living in Columbus

1. Columbus may be too cold for you
2. You may not get as many hours of sun as you might wish
3. Not that many good sports teams in Columbus
4. Columbus doesn’t have a great art scene
5. Number of museums is rather limited in Columbus
6. Columbus is not the most exciting city
7. Level of entertainment is not that great
8. You may get bored living in Columbus sooner or later
9. Columbus is not located at the coast
10. You can’t go surfing or swimming during lunch break
11. Property prices may increase further
12. Rents may increase as well
13. Housing shortage may become a serious problem in Columbus in the future
14. You may have to search for longer to find a suitable place to stay
15. Housing may eat up more of your disposable income
16. People who just make a low income may no longer be able to afford living in Columbus
17. City of Columbus may become increasingly crowded
18. Overall level of inequality may increase
19. Social tensions may increase in Columbus as well
20. Homelessness may become a serious problem
21. People may no longer be that friendly anymore
22. Crime rates may increase in the future
23. Public infrastructure may collapse due to enormous population growth
24. Nightlife in Columbus is not as great as in other major cities
25. Natural disasters may destroy your home and your livelihood
26. You should not expect big city life in Columbus as you know it from NYC
27. Public transport is rather poor in the outskirts of Columbus
28. Hard to meet many famous people in Columbus
29. Not that many great shopping opportunities in Columbus
30. Your friends may not understand your decision of moving to Columbus
31. You may not spend that much time outdoors
32. Not as many renowned colleges as in other major cities

Columbus may be too cold for you

One disadvantage of moving to Columbus is that this region may just be too cold for you.

In fact, you will experience strong winters and if you don’t like the cold at all and rather want to enjoy warm weather all year long, you should not move to Columbus but rather move to Long Beach or other cities on the West Coast instead.

You may not get as many hours of sun as you might wish

Not only will you have many cool days in Columbus, but you will also not be able to enjoy as many hours of sun as in many other cities near the coast and this may be quite sad since it may adversely affect your mood in the long run.

Not that many good sports teams in Columbus

While you can watch some nice sports games, you will still not have as much variety in this regard as in NYC or L.A. where you will often be able to watch many world-class teams and if you are a sports enthusiast, you may be better off moving to a bigger city instead of living in Columbus.

Columbus doesn’t have a great art scene

Another reason not to move to Columbus is that the city doesn’t have a great art scene and if you are an artist or just interested in art, you may rather want to move to San Francisco since you will find much more like-minded people than in Columbus.

Number of museums is rather limited in Columbus

You should also know that the number of museums is rather limited in Columbus and if you want to spend lots of time on exhibitions, you may become really disappointed in this regard.

Columbus is not the most exciting city

Another downside to moving to Columbus is that it is also not the most exciting city and you will often miss things you would be used to in NYC or L.A. since those cities just have a certain vibe Columbus doesn’t provide.

Level of entertainment is not that great

Overall level of entertainment is not that great in Columbus in general and if you are the type of person who always needs something to do and can’t be alone for even one minute, chances are that Columbus will not be the best place to live for you.

You may get bored living in Columbus sooner or later

Since there are not that many things to do compared to other major cities, you may get bored living in Columbus sooner or later and may move to a different city in the long run.

Columbus is not located at the coast

Another problem with moving to Columbus is that the city is not directly located at the coast and this prevents you from taking a swim in the sea and if you love the sea and everything that comes along with it, you may rather want to a place that is directly located at the coast where you can reach the next beach within a few minutes.

You can’t go surfing or swimming during lunch break

While many other people who live directly at the coast can go swimming or surfing during lunch break and can reload their batteries in a pretty efficient manner, you will not have this luxury in Columbus and may really envy your friends who may live directly at the coast.

Property prices may increase further

Since Columbus becomes increasingly popular and population is growing, property prices may increase quite a lot in the future and you may no longer be able to make a bargain just a few years from now.

Rents may increase as well

Not only property prices may increase, but also rents in Columbus may increase significantly and while they are still reasonably low right now, this may change in the future and you may therefore have to spend significant amounts of money on housing sooner or later.

Housing shortage may become a serious problem in Columbus in the future

Due to increasing demand for properties, housing shortage may become a serious problem in Columbus in the future and you may therefore have to compete with many other people for finding a good place to stay.

You may have to search for longer to find a suitable place to stay

Due to growing population, you may also have to search for much longer until you find a suitable place to stay in the future and this may be really annoying and frustrating since you would have less time to spend on other things.

Housing may eat up more of your disposable income

In general, since housing prices will likely increase in the future, you will also have to spend a higher fraction of your disposable income on rent or on paying back your mortgage and this will leave you less money to spend on other important things of daily life.

People who just make a low income may no longer be able to afford living in Columbus

Another downside to living in Columbus is that many people with a low income may no longer be able to make a decent living just a few years from now and many locals may therefore have to leave the region sooner or later.

City of Columbus may become increasingly crowded

Due to significant population growth in the past, Columbus has also become increasingly crowded in the future and this may take away some quality of life since you will no longer have that much space for yourself.

Overall level of inequality may increase

Due to increasing demand for housing and increasing property prices, overall level of inequality may increase since while landlords benefit from this development, tenants often struggle to pay rent and this trend may become even worse in the future.

Social tensions may increase in Columbus as well

Due to the increasing level of inequality, social tensions have also become prevalent in Columbus over the past decade and social cohesion may fall apart.

Homelessness may become a serious problem

Another problem with living in Columbus is that homelessness starts to be a big problem and if the trend of increasing property prices continues, an increasing number of people may lose their homes and may end up in the streets.

People may no longer be that friendly anymore

Due to increasing social tensions, people may also not be as friendly anymore as they had been in the past and this may lower overall quality in the long run.

Crime rates may increase in the future

Due to increasing inequality, also crime rates tend to increase in the future and this may become a serious problem in the long run and may cause many people to leave the region.

Public infrastructure may collapse due to enormous population growth

While Columbus has decent public infrastructure right now, this may no longer be true in the future since in case population is growing further at rapid speed, chances are that public infrastructure may collapse sooner or later.

Nightlife in Columbus is not as great as in other major cities

While you can find decent bars in Columbus, you will still not have the same high-quality nightlife as in NYC or other major cities and if you are a party person, you may be better off moving to a different city.

Natural disasters may destroy your home and your livelihood

You should also know that natural disasters like tornadoes or wildfires may destroy your home, especially if you live in the outskirts of Columbus where the risk in this regard is much higher compared to the city center.

You should not expect big city life in Columbus as you know it from NYC

If you expect big city life as you know it from NYC or L.A., you will probably also get pretty disappointed with your life in Columbus since it just doesn’t provide the same feeling as other major cities.

Public transport is rather poor in the outskirts of Columbus

Public transport is also pretty poor in the suburbs and outskirts of Columbus and you may therefore need a car if you want to live in those places and can’t afford living in the city center.

Hard to meet many famous people in Columbus

Since Columbus is not the most popular city, it is also hard to meet celebrities and other famous people and if your goal is to meet many influential people, you will be better off moving to a more popular city instead.

Not that many great shopping opportunities in Columbus

While you will find most things for daily life, you will still not find as many fancy boutiques and shopping malls in Columbus as you would in other bigger cities and if you are a fashion victim, Columbus may just not be the best place for you to stay.

Your friends may not understand your decision of moving to Columbus

Since Columbus is not the most popular city, your friends may also not understand your decision of moving to Columbus and you may have to justify quite a lot in this regard.

You may not spend that much time outdoors

Since Columbus can be a pretty cold place in winter, you will often not spend as much time outdoors compared to other warmer cities where you can often hang out outdoors in winter without having to wear a heavy jacket.

Not as many renowned colleges as in other major cities

You will also not find as many renowned colleges as in other major cities in the US and Columbus may therefore not be the great city for ambitious students who aspire to a fancy career.

Top 10 Moving To Columbus Pros & Cons – Summary List

Should You Move To Columbus?

Moving to Columbus can be great for you since property prices and rents are fairly low and you don’t have to spend lots of money on housing yet while you can still enjoy the infrastructure of a big city.

However, also keep in mind that Columbus has an above-average crime rate and is also not the most popular city.

In the end, it is on you to check out all the advantages and disadvantages of living in Columbus carefully so that you can make the best decision possible regarding whether you still want to move to Columbus or rather want to live in a different region instead.

Alternative Cities To Live In

If you don’t want to move to Columbus anymore, you should also have a look at the following articles:

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Dallas

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Houston

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Jacksonville

Sources

https://www.columbus.gov/development/economic-development/Facts—Figures/

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/columbuscityohio

About the author

This site is about living, moving and traveling to various parts of our fascinating planet.

My name is Andreas and when I was younger, I traveled the world and learned a lot about different cultures and countries.

Thus, I want to share my experiences with you so that you can benefit from them and avoid common mistakes in this regard.

In my articles, you will find everything you need to find the best location for a happy and successful life.