Living across the river in Phenix City, Ala., is cheaper than living in Columbus, Ga., on most measures: the typical home is worth about $23,600 less, rent runs about $139 a month less, and the typical homeowner pays roughly half as much in property taxes.

But it's not cheaper on everything. Phenix City's sales tax is higher than Columbus's, and the typical household there earns about $8,000 a year less.

Many people cross the Chattahoochee River every day to work, shop and eat on the other side, and many families weigh the two when they're deciding where to buy or rent. Here are 12 questions about how the two cities compare, answered with the latest figures from the U.S. Census Bureau and state tax records.

The quick comparison

Census figures are 2020–2024 averages. Sales tax rates are as of October 2026.

1. Is it cheaper to live in Phenix City or Columbus?

Phenix City, for housing. Its median home value, median rent and typical property tax bill are all lower than Columbus's. The typical homeowner with a mortgage in Phenix City pays $1,315 a month for the mortgage, taxes, insurance and utilities, according to the Census Bureau, compared with $1,489 in Columbus. That's about $174 a month, or roughly $2,100 a year, in Phenix City's favor.

Columbus, for shopping. Sales tax is lower on the Georgia side of the river.

2. How much cheaper are homes in Phenix City?

The median value of an owner-occupied home is $170,300 in Phenix City and $193,900 in Columbus, according to the Census Bureau. That's about 12% less in Phenix City.

Both cities are far cheaper than their states as a whole. Georgia's median home value is $303,300, and Alabama's is $209,900. Elsewhere in Russell County, outside Phenix City, homes are cheaper still: the county's median is $165,700.

These are what owners estimate their homes are worth, averaged over 2020 to 2024. Today's asking prices are higher; see our story on what $300,000 buys in Columbus, Phenix City and Harris County.

3. What about rent?

Median gross rent, which includes utilities, is $967 a month in Phenix City and $1,106 in Columbus, according to the Census Bureau. Over a year, that's about $1,668 less in Phenix City.

Rents are rising fast on both sides of the river, though. In our analysis of Zillow data this year, typical asking rent in Phenix City's 36867 ZIP code was up 8.2% from a year earlier, one of the fastest increases in the area.

4. Are property taxes really lower in Alabama?

Yes, by a lot. Alabama has some of the lowest property taxes in the country. The typical homeowner in Phenix City pays $873 a year in property taxes, according to the Census Bureau, about half of what the typical Columbus homeowner pays ($1,660).

Columbus homeowners pay less than the typical Georgian, too, partly because homes here are worth less than the state average.

5. Which side has the higher sales tax?

Phenix City. The combined sales tax rate in Phenix City is 9.75%: 4% to the state of Alabama, 1% to Russell County and 4.75% to the city, according to tax software company Avalara.

In Columbus, it's 9%: Georgia's 4% state rate plus 5 points of local taxes that pay for schools, roads, public safety and city projects, according to the Georgia Department of Revenue's rate chart effective Oct. 1, 2026.

What that means at the register: On a $1,000 purchase, you'd pay $90 in tax in Columbus and $97.50 in Phenix City. On a $40,000 a year household shopping budget for taxable goods, that's about $300 more a year in Phenix City.

6. Where do people earn more?

Columbus. The median household income is $58,073 in Columbus and $50,053 in Phenix City. The poverty rate is 19.0% in Columbus and 24.5% in Phenix City.

But income varies more within each city than between them. Smiths Station's 36877 ZIP code, just north of Phenix City, has a median household income of $78,103, higher than every Columbus ZIP code except Midland, Fortson and Fort Benning. Phenix City's north side (36870) comes in at $72,500.

7. Which is better for a homebuyer?

It depends on what you value. Phenix City offers lower home prices and much lower property taxes, which add up over a 30-year mortgage. Columbus offers a bigger job market, more shopping and restaurants, and lower sales tax.

A rough example: If you bought a home at each city's median value, the Phenix City home would cost about $23,600 less up front. Add in the typical difference in property taxes (about $787 a year), and over 10 years, that's roughly $7,900 in property tax savings, before considering any change in tax rates or home values.

8. How long is the commute?

About the same. The average one-way commute is 20.9 minutes in Columbus and 22.1 minutes in Phenix City, according to the Census Bureau. Both are shorter than the Georgia average (28.3 minutes) and the Alabama average (25.5 minutes).

For many Phenix City residents, the drive to Uptown Columbus is just a few minutes across one of the bridges over the Chattahoochee.

9. What time is it in Phenix City?

Eastern time, in practice. Phenix City is officially in the Central time zone, like the rest of Alabama, but the city and some nearby areas unofficially follow Eastern time because of their close ties to Columbus. If your phone switches to Central when you cross the river, set it to Eastern manually, or you'll be an hour early everywhere you go in town.

10. Can I live in one state and work in the other?

Yes, and many people do. In general, you'll file a tax return in both states: one in the state where you work and one in the state where you live, and you can usually claim a credit so you don't pay income tax twice on the same wages. Georgia and Alabama both have state income taxes. Rules can be complicated, so check with a tax preparer before you move.

Your car is also taxed differently. Georgia charges a one-time title ad valorem tax when you buy a vehicle instead of sales tax, while Alabama charges sales tax on vehicle purchases plus an annual tax on the vehicle's value when you renew your tag.

11. Which city has more college graduates?

Columbus. About 30.5% of adults 25 and older in Columbus have a bachelor's degree or higher, compared with 23.2% in Phenix City, according to the Census Bureau. Columbus is home to Columbus State University and Columbus Technical College, and Phenix City is home to Chattahoochee Valley Community College.

12. How did Phenix City get its name?

The city was incorporated in 1883 as Brownville, and it appears as Phenix City on the 1890 U.S. census. It was incorporated under that name on Feb. 19, 1897. No one is sure where the name came from: it may come from the Phenix Mills across the river in Columbus, or from the mythical bird.

Phenix City is also known for a darker chapter. In the early 1950s, it had a national reputation as "Sin City, USA" for organized crime and gambling. After reform candidate Albert Patterson was shot and killed on June 18, 1954, Gov. Gordon Persons declared martial law on July 22, 1954. It lasted until Jan. 17, 1955, and the city spent decades rebuilding its image. Today, it's known for its riverfront parks and its side of the Chattahoochee whitewater course.

Bonus: how do Harris County and Smiths Station stack up?

Many families looking at Columbus and Phenix City also look at the suburbs on either side. Here's how the two cities compare with the counties around them:

Harris County (Hamilton, Pine Mountain and the fast-growing area just north of Columbus) has the region's priciest homes and highest incomes, and the highest property tax bills: the typical homeowner pays about $2,578 a year, triple Phenix City's.

Lee County, Ala., which includes Smiths Station, Auburn and Opelika, splits the difference: home values well above Columbus, but property taxes still lower than on the Georgia side. Smiths Station's own 36877 ZIP code has a median household income of $78,103, among the highest in the area.

The bottom line

Phenix City is the budget pick for housing, especially for homeowners, thanks to Alabama's low property taxes. Columbus has the bigger economy, higher typical incomes and a lower sales tax. For many families, the best of both worlds is exactly what they already do: live on one side of the river and work, shop or eat on the other.

Which side of the river do you live on, and why? Tell us in the comments.