Downtown Columbia

Columbia, SC

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Downtown Columbia - Columbia, SC

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A charming college town in the heart of Columbia

University College Town Urban Nightlife Restaurants Entertainment

A charming college town, Columbia’s downtown district is home to everything that makes the city so notable. The University of South Carolina sits in Downtown Columbia, offering everything from Greek Village and Founders Park to the Horseshow and Maxcy Gregg Park. This bustling college campus gives the neighborhood a lively energy, and residents appreciate the vibrant nightlife scene and delicious local eats. From Blue Marlin to Thirsty Fellow Pizzeria and Pub, there are plenty of hangouts for all residents. Although Downtown Columbia can be described as a college town, there is also a safe, family-friendly atmosphere in the neighborhood. Apartments, houses, and condos in the area range from affordable to upscale, so there’s something for everyone. From Finlay Park to the South Carolina State Museum, Downtown Columbia is filled with tourist attractions and entertainment options.

Rent Trends

As of April 2025, the average apartment rent in Downtown Columbia is $1,296 for a studio, $1,441 for one bedroom, $1,850 for two bedrooms, and $2,336 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Downtown Columbia has decreased by -1.9% in the past year.

  • Studio

  • 522 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,296/month

    Average Rent

  • 1 BR

  • 723 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,441/month

    Average Rent

  • 2 BR

  • 1,040 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,850/month

    Average Rent

  • 3 BR

  • 1,737 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $2,336/month

    Average Rent

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • South Carolina State Museum
  • EdVenture Children's Museum
  • Melton Memorial Observatory
  • McKissick Museum
  • Riverbanks Zoo

Airports

  • Columbia Metro

Top Apartments in Downtown Columbia

Houses for Rent in Downtown Columbia

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.