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Rental Market Trends in Columbia, SC

Updated August 2026

The average rent in Columbia, SC is $1,191/month.

Rent in Columbia is 28% lower than the national average rent of $1,663/month, making this one of the less expensive cities statewide.

$1,191/month

Average Rent

729 Sq Ft

Average Size

+2.2%

Change / Year

4,525

Available Apartments

Columbia rent varies by unit size and layout:

  • Studio apartments in Columbia average $1,017 per month.
  • One-bedroom apartments in Columbia average $1,191 per month.
  • Two-bedroom apartments in Columbia average $1,383 per month.
  • Three-bedroom apartments in Columbia average $1,780 or more per month.

Average Rent by Home Type

Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$1,017/month
452 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,191/month
729 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,383/month
1,062 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,780/month
1,288 Sq Ft
Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,258/month
417 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,409/month
924 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,863/month
1,420 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$2,452/month
2,075 Sq Ft
Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,299/month
707 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,293/month
831 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,707/month
1,318 Sq Ft
Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,271/month
705 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,417/month
980 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,050/month
1,373 Sq Ft
View Columbia Apartments

How much has average rent changed in Columbia, SC?

In the past year, rent has increased by 2.2%, which averages out to $27 more per month.

Market Trends Over Time

August 2026

2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time

Rent Ranges in Columbia, SC

August 2026
$1,001 - $1,500
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Columbia, SC
Percentage*
Rent Range
4% Below $700/month
15% $700 - $1,000/month
51% $1,001 - $1,500/month
23% $1,501 - $2,000/month
6% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

  • Most Affordable
  • Most Expensive
  • Most Available

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Columbia?

Based on current rent prices, Far North Columbia, St Andrews and Hopkins Suburban are the most affordable neighborhoods in Columbia.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Far North Columbia
$1,056/month
754 Sq Ft
St Andrews
$1,076/month
720 Sq Ft
Hopkins Suburban
$1,200/month
732 Sq Ft
Robert Mills
$1,232/month
544 Sq Ft
Fort Jackson
$1,250/month
882 Sq Ft
Outer East Central
$1,317/month
706 Sq Ft
Laurel Hill
$1,330/month
865 Sq Ft
Rosewood
$1,353/month
708 Sq Ft
Irmo-Seven Oaks
$1,354/month
809 Sq Ft
Northeast Arcadia Lakes
$1,364/month
802 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Columbia?

Based on current rent prices, Bull Street, Congaree Vista and Downtown Columbia are the most expensive neighborhoods in Columbia.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Bull Street
$2,088/month
703 Sq Ft
Congaree Vista
$1,623/month
808 Sq Ft
Downtown Columbia
$1,616/month
710 Sq Ft
University Hill
$1,586/month
674 Sq Ft
Greek Village
$1,520/month
641 Sq Ft
Arsenal Hill
$1,480/month
787 Sq Ft
Main Street District
$1,463/month
637 Sq Ft
Granby Hill
$1,456/month
630 Sq Ft
Wildewood
$1,412/month
847 Sq Ft
Arthurtown
$1,396/month
647 Sq Ft

Which Columbia neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

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

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Northeast Arcadia Lakes
$1,364/month
802 Sq Ft
St Andrews
$1,076/month
720 Sq Ft
Downtown Columbia
$1,616/month
710 Sq Ft
Irmo-Seven Oaks
$1,354/month
809 Sq Ft
Hopkins Suburban
$1,200/month
732 Sq Ft
Main Street District
$1,463/month
637 Sq Ft
Congaree Vista
$1,623/month
808 Sq Ft
Wildewood
$1,412/month
847 Sq Ft
Rosewood
$1,353/month
708 Sq Ft
Bull Street
$2,088/month
703 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 $1,191, you’ll want to make about $3,970 per month or $47,640 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 9.9% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Columbia is 29.0% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,017 - $1,780. You can expect to pay 1.3% less for groceries, 0.4% less for utilities, and 7.8% less for transportation.

City

Columbia, SC

4,525 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.

View the Columbia Area Guide

Apartment Averages

Far North Columbia

Columbia, SC

Bull Street

Columbia, SC

Studio
$620/month
$1,677/month
One Bedroom
$706/month
$1,930/month
Two Bedroom
-
$2,504/month
Three Bedroom
-
$2,822/month
View Rentals
View Rentals

Compare Rent Trends Nearby

Get a clearer picture of the area by viewing rent trends in nearby cities.

  • Cayce

    Cayce

Apartment Communities in Columbia We Think You'll Love

Keystone Luxury Apartments

Keystone Luxury Apartments

1659 Legrand Rd,
Columbia, SC 29223

2-3 Beds | $1,800 - $2,500

The Babcock

The Babcock

2110 Pickens St,
Columbia, SC 29201

Studio - 2 Beds | $1,315 - $1,795

The Flats at Crosspointe

The Flats at Crosspointe

1600 Ellie Dr,
Columbia, SC 29203

1-3 Beds | $1,596 - $2,532

The Lady

The Lady

1310 Lady St,
Columbia, SC 29201

Studio - 3 Beds | $1,515 - $2,099

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Columbia?

The average rent in Columbia is $1,191 per month, which is 28.4% lower than the national average of $1,663.

What is the average rent for a house in Columbia?

The average rent for a house in Columbia, SC is $1,863 per month.

What is the average rent for a townhome in Columbia?

The average rent for a townhome in Columbia, SC is $1,417 per month.

What is the average rent for a condo in Columbia?

The average rent for a condo in Columbia, SC is $1,299 per month.

Are rents going up or down in Columbia?

Rents in Columbia, SC are increasing, with prices up 2.2% year-over-year and $27 more per month.

What rent range is most common in Columbia?

In Columbia, SC, 51% of apartments fall between $1,001 - $1,500/month, though prices may vary depending on location and other factors.

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 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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Equal Housing Opportunity

© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity