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Rental Market Trends in Columbia, SC

What is the average rent in Columbia, SC?

$1,219/month

Average Rent

734 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+6.6%

Increase in the Last Year

As of June 2025, the average rent in Columbia, SC is $1,219 per month. This is 25% lower than the national average rent of $1,628/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 $1,042 per month for a studio, $1,219 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $1,343 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $1,643 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$1,042/month
458 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,219/month
734 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,343/month
1,067 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,643/month
1,371 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,119/month
587 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,482/month
966 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,890/month
1,418 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$2,493/month
2,109 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,286/month
708 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,420/month
1,028 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,456/month
1,170 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,329/month
978 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,948/month
1,306 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Columbia, SC?

In the past year, rent has increased by 6.6%, which averages out to $81 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 June 2025
Legend
2024 2025
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Columbia, SC
Last Updated June 2025
$1,001 - $1,500
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Columbia, SC
Percentage*
Rent Range
5% Below $700/month
16% $700 - $1,000/month
52% $1,001 - $1,500/month
19% $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, Cherokee Gardens and Emerald Valley are the most affordable neighborhoods in Columbia.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Skyview Terrace
$895/month
629 Sq Ft
Cherokee Gardens
$911/month
641 Sq Ft
Emerald Valley
$926/month
694 Sq Ft
Landmark at Pine Court
$940/month
770 Sq Ft
Bentley at Broad River
$940/month
770 Sq Ft
Mill at Broad River
$940/month
770 Sq Ft
Riverside Forest
$976/month
691 Sq Ft
Far North Columbia
$1,022/month
771 Sq Ft
Springwood Lake Development
$1,024/month
674 Sq Ft
Riverside Park
$1,035/month
660 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Columbia?

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

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Jackson Heights
$2,420/month
806 Sq Ft
The Laureate
$2,299/month
797 Sq Ft
Congaree Vista
$2,092/month
778 Sq Ft
North Springs
$1,903/month
797 Sq Ft
Grandview
$1,830/month
863 Sq Ft
Arsenal Hill
$1,812/month
732 Sq Ft
University Hill
$1,744/month
704 Sq Ft
Bull Street
$1,736/month
709 Sq Ft
Downtown Columbia
$1,723/month
729 Sq Ft
Hampton Greene
$1,657/month
670 Sq Ft

Which Columbia neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

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

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
East Columbia
$1,579/month
753 Sq Ft
Northeast Arcadia Lakes
$1,418/month
800 Sq Ft
St Andrews
$1,221/month
717 Sq Ft
Downtown Columbia
$1,723/month
729 Sq Ft
Irmo-Seven Oaks
$1,602/month
806 Sq Ft
Main Street District
$1,627/month
692 Sq Ft
Hopkins Suburban
$1,404/month
716 Sq Ft
Rosewood
$1,502/month
700 Sq Ft
Congaree Vista
$2,092/month
778 Sq Ft
Wildewood
$1,340/month
853 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 $1,219, you’ll want to make about $4,063 per month or $48,756 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 30.8% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,042 - $1,643. You can expect to pay 0.9% less for groceries, 17.6% more for utilities, and 19.4% less for transportation.

City

Columbia, SC

4,318 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

Jackson Heights

Columbia, SC

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

  • West Columbia Average Rent

Apartment communities in Columbia we think you'll love

1321 Lofts

1321 Lofts

1321 Lady St,
Columbia, SC 29201

Studio - 2 Beds | $1,122 - $2,028

The Babcock

The Babcock

2110 Pickens St,
Columbia, SC 29201

1-2 Beds | $1,150 - $2,070

Station at Lake Murray

Station at Lake Murray

2235 Lake Murray Blvd,
Columbia, SC 29212

1-2 Beds | $1,374 - $2,349

Pointe Grand Columbia

Pointe Grand Columbia

150 Powell Rd,
Columbia, SC 29203

2 Beds | $1,556 - $1,812

Property Management Companies in Columbia, SC

Stonemark Management
Stonemark Management
  • 49

    Communities

  • 11,483

    Units

  • 35

    Cities

10 Communities in Columbia
Greystar
Greystar
  • 3,269

    Communities

  • 908,540

    Units

  • 845

    Cities

8 Communities in Columbia
Morgan Properties
Morgan Properties
  • 325

    Communities

  • 97,635

    Units

  • 199

    Cities

6 Communities in Columbia
Willow Bridge
Willow Bridge
  • 705

    Communities

  • 191,765

    Units

  • 328

    Cities

5 Communities in Columbia
RPM
RPM
  • 608

    Communities

  • 161,038

    Units

  • 238

    Cities

4 Communities in Columbia
Monarch Investment and Management Group
Monarch Investment and Management Group
  • 306

    Communities

  • 74,563

    Units

  • 141

    Cities

4 Communities in Columbia
DLH Properties
DLH Properties
  • 26

    Communities

  • 4,527

    Units

  • 17

    Cities

4 Communities in Columbia
Lexington Partners
Lexington Partners
  • 20

    Communities

  • 3,278

    Units

  • 13

    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 June 2025.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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Equal Housing Opportunity