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Rental Market Trends in Columbia, SC

What is the average rent in Columbia, SC?

$1,158/month

Average Rent

740 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+0.8%

Increase in the Last Year

As of February 2026, the average rent in Columbia, SC is $1,158 per month. This is 29% lower than the national average rent of $1,625/month, making renting in Columbia more affordable than most cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in Columbia, you can expect to pay about $1,001 per month for a studio, $1,158 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $1,347 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $1,645 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$1,001/month
433 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,158/month
740 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,347/month
1,067 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,645/month
1,337 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,271/month
553 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,377/month
899 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,860/month
1,394 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$2,387/month
2,067 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,230/month
550 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,415/month
947 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,737/month
1,236 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,385/month
1,027 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,991/month
1,362 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Columbia, SC?

In the past year, rent has increased by 0.8%, which averages out to $10 more per month.

Market Trends Over Time   The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated February 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Columbia, SC
Last Updated February 2026
$1,001 - $1,500
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Columbia, SC
Percentage*
Rent Range
5% Below $700/month
14% $700 - $1,000/month
54% $1,001 - $1,500/month
20% $1,501 - $2,000/month
7% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

Last Updated Today
  • Most Affordable
  • Most Expensive
  • Most Available

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Columbia?

Based on current rent prices, Skyview Terrace, Riverside Forest and Emerald Valley are the most affordable neighborhoods in Columbia.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Skyview Terrace
$870/month
621 Sq Ft
Riverside Forest
$906/month
674 Sq Ft
Emerald Valley
$909/month
626 Sq Ft
Riverside Park
$921/month
652 Sq Ft
Regency Park
$945/month
645 Sq Ft
Landmark at Pine Court
$982/month
777 Sq Ft
Bentley at Broad River
$982/month
777 Sq Ft
Mill at Broad River
$982/month
777 Sq Ft
Far North Columbia
$1,004/month
770 Sq Ft
Skyland Estates
$1,028/month
723 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Columbia?

Based on current rent prices, North Springs, Jackson Heights and The Laureate are the most expensive neighborhoods in Columbia.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
North Springs
$2,170/month
832 Sq Ft
Jackson Heights
$1,953/month
773 Sq Ft
The Laureate
$1,953/month
773 Sq Ft
Bull Street
$1,877/month
719 Sq Ft
Grandview
$1,770/month
863 Sq Ft
Congaree Vista
$1,660/month
778 Sq Ft
Downtown Columbia
$1,560/month
751 Sq Ft
Harborside at Lake Carolina
$1,529/month
795 Sq Ft
Arcadia's Edge
$1,502/month
801 Sq Ft
Arsenal Hill
$1,478/month
813 Sq Ft

Which Columbia neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhoods in Columbia with the most apartments available are East Columbia, St Andrews and Northeast Arcadia Lakes .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
East Columbia
$1,436/month
760 Sq Ft
St Andrews
$1,048/month
696 Sq Ft
Northeast Arcadia Lakes
$1,388/month
800 Sq Ft
Downtown Columbia
$1,560/month
751 Sq Ft
Riverside Park
$921/month
652 Sq Ft
Riverside Forest
$906/month
674 Sq Ft
Irmo-Seven Oaks
$1,398/month
813 Sq Ft
Hopkins Suburban
$1,192/month
703 Sq Ft
Rosewood
$1,271/month
687 Sq Ft
Congaree Vista
$1,660/month
778 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Columbia, SC?

Because the average rent in Columbia is $1,158, you’ll want to make about $3,860 per month or $46,320 per year. The general guideline is to pay no more than 30 percent of your monthly income on rent. However, you’ll want to consider additional factors, such as your monthly bills and other expenses. Use our rent affordability calculator to help determine how much to budget for rent.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Columbia, SC is 10.8% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Columbia is 30.3% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,001 - $1,645. You can expect to pay 1.2% less for groceries, 1.7% more for utilities, and 11.9% less for transportation.

City

Columbia, SC

4,993 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

How does Columbia, SC compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?

Use the tool below to compare Columbia, SC to other nearby cities and neighborhoods. The Apartments.com neighborhood guides provide you with insight into the area’s transportation, things to do, and more.

Explore the Area Guide for Columbia, SC

Apartment Averages

Skyview Terrace

Columbia, SC

North Springs

Columbia, SC

Studio
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-
One Bedroom
-
-
Two Bedroom
-
-
Three Bedroom
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Search
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Nearby City Rent Trends

  • West Columbia Average Rent

Apartment communities in Columbia we think you'll love

Keystone Luxury Apartments

Keystone Luxury Apartments

1659 Legrand Rd,
Columbia, SC 29223

$1,800 - $2,500

2-3 Beds

The Lady

The Lady

1310 Lady St,
Columbia, SC 29201

$1,439 - $1,775

Studio - 3 Beds

The Babcock

The Babcock

2110 Pickens St,
Columbia, SC 29201

$1,400 - $1,839

1-2 Beds

42 Magnolia + 5000 Forest

42 Magnolia + 5000 Forest

5150 Forest Dr,
Columbia, SC 29206

$1,299 - $2,205

Studio - 3 Beds

Property Management Companies in Columbia, SC

Morgan Properties
Morgan Properties
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  • 107,997

    Units

  • 239

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6 Communities in Columbia
Stonemark Management
Stonemark Management
  • 53

    Communities

  • 13,075

    Units

  • 41

    Cities

6 Communities in Columbia
Greystar
Greystar
  • 3,461

    Communities

  • 952,828

    Units

  • 890

    Cities

5 Communities in Columbia
AMC
AMC
  • 646

    Communities

  • 127,854

    Units

  • 250

    Cities

5 Communities in Columbia
Willow Bridge
Willow Bridge
  • 716

    Communities

  • 198,374

    Units

  • 339

    Cities

4 Communities in Columbia
Monarch Investment and Management Group
Monarch Investment and Management Group
  • 318

    Communities

  • 77,733

    Units

  • 144

    Cities

4 Communities in Columbia
DLH Properties
DLH Properties
  • 27

    Communities

  • 4,787

    Units

  • 18

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4 Communities in Columbia
Arnold Companies
Arnold Companies
  • 20

    Communities

  • 3,531

    Units

  • 15

    Cities

4 Communities in Columbia

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United States South Carolina Columbia Rental Trends

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 2026.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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Equal Housing Opportunity