The Babcock
2110 Pickens St,
Columbia, SC 29201
$1,265 - $1,985
1-2 Beds
Rental Market Trends in Columbia, SC
What is the average rent in Columbia, SC?
$1,148/month
Average Rent
735 Sq Ft
Average Apartment Size
+2.6%
Increase in the Last Year
As of September 2025, the average rent in Columbia, SC is $1,148 per month. This is 30% lower than the national average rent of $1,640/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 $1,064 per month for a studio, $1,148 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $1,341 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $1,640 or more.
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
How much has average rent changed in Columbia, SC?
In the past year, rent has increased by 2.6%, which averages out to $30 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 September 2025
Legend
2024
2025
Rent Ranges in Columbia, SC
Last Updated September 2025
$1,001 - $1,500
Most rental prices fall within this range
Percentage*
Rent Range
5%
Below $700/month
15%
$700 - $1,000/month
52%
$1,001 - $1,500/month
20%
$1,501 - $2,000/month
8%
Above $2,000/month
Rent by Neighborhood
Last Updated Today
What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Columbia?
Based on current rent prices, Skyview Terrace, Cherokee Gardens and Landmark at Pine Court are the most affordable neighborhoods in Columbia.
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Columbia?
Based on current rent prices, North Springs, Bull Street and Congaree Vista are the most expensive neighborhoods in Columbia.
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average 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 .
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Columbia, SC?
Because the average rent in Columbia is $1,148, you’ll want to make about $3,826 per month or $45,912 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 10.5% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Columbia is 30.2% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,064 - $1,640. You can expect to pay 1.1% less for groceries, 13.2% more for utilities, and 17.9% less for transportation.
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.
Studio
-
-
One Bedroom
-
-
Two Bedroom
-
-
Three Bedroom
-
-
Nearby City Rent Trends
Apartment communities in Columbia we think you'll love
Property Management Companies in Columbia, SC
Stonemark Management
-
50
Communities
-
11,882
Units
-
35
Cities
10 Communities in Columbia
Greystar
-
3,379
Communities
-
938,530
Units
-
866
Cities
6 Communities in Columbia
Morgan Properties
-
327
Communities
-
98,339
Units
-
200
Cities
6 Communities in Columbia
Willow Bridge
-
698
Communities
-
189,489
Units
-
330
Cities
5 Communities in Columbia
Easlan Management
-
14
Communities
-
2,316
Units
-
9
Cities
5 Communities in Columbia
Monarch Investment and Management Group
-
307
Communities
-
75,171
Units
-
141
Cities
4 Communities in Columbia
DLH Properties
-
27
Communities
-
4,787
Units
-
18
Cities
4 Communities in Columbia
Lexington Partners
-
20
Communities
-
3,240
Units
-
13
Cities
4 Communities in Columbia
Learn More with Helpful Articles
Rental management, simplified
Our all-in-one suite of property manangement software makes the rental process easy. Screen tenants, manage payments, and more – all on Apartments.com
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 September 2025.
* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.