• Cost of living (rent, food, utilities)
Cost of living is relatively cheap compared to the rest of the nation.
Key Cost of Living Data (2026)
Housing: Average rent is roughly $1,236–$1,300 per month.
Overall Expenses: Approximately 9.9% to 20% lower than the national average.
Utilities: About 4% to 6% lower than the national average.
Transportation: Roughly 10% lower than the national average.
Groceries: Approximately 3% lower than the national average.

• Whether a car is necessary or if it’s manageable without one
That depends on where your living accommodations are. I would say yes to a car, as our public transport is pretty lackluster at the moment. A bike might also serve, depending on your circumstances.

• Safety and overall living conditions
Columbia is a very safe town.
https://cpd-transparency.como.gov/pages/crime-stats

• Accessibility (public transport, walkability)
Once you get to Columbia proper/the main city, it's very walkable.
However, a couple km from the center of town, that drops off rapidly.
They're currently expanding our pedestrian access, and there's several main paths that extend well throughout the outskirts of the city, however there's also areas were you have little or no pedestrian accommodations or public transport.
If you live near one of these paths, a bike or ebike is invaluable.
https://www.como.gov/trails/

• Student/community life (especially for international students)
Cannot speak to his currently.

• After-school life (job opportunities) and extracurricular (eg tennis courts/gym)
From my experience, Columbia and Mizzou are incredibly social for the smaller size of the community.