Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Pembroke Pines, FL
🏆 Pembroke Pines leads 11 of 20 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754
Pembroke Pines
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
170,472 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $154k less ($226,200 vs $379,900)
Rent averages $682/mo less ($1,105 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Cons
Median income trails Pembroke Pines by $23,562/yr
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 4.7%)
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Households earn $23,562 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,900
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Columbia
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$154k less
$226,200 vs $379,900
Pembroke Pines
Median Income
$23,562
$77,657 vs $54,095/yr
Pembroke Pines
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Pembroke Pines, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $379,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $77,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 36.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 | 170,472 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 71.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Pembroke Pines's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Pembroke Pines leads 11 of 20 categories. Columbia wins 9 and Pembroke Pines wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Columbia to Pembroke Pines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $379,900 median home), income ($54,095 vs $77,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Pembroke Pines, FL are about 556 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.