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Rental Market Trends in Columbia, SC

What is the average rent in Columbia, SC?

$1,167/month

Average Rent

738 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+0.1%

Increase in the Last Year

As of May 2026, the average rent in Columbia, SC is $1,167 per month. This is 29% lower than the national average rent of $1,641/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 $979 per month for a studio, $1,167 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $1,371 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $1,812 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$979/month
452 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,167/month
738 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,371/month
1,064 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,812/month
1,316 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,102/month
595 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,407/month
906 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,880/month
1,390 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$2,558/month
2,045 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,204/month
689 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,544/month
954 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,683/month
1,348 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,188/month
388 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,314/month
898 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,987/month
1,346 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$4,251/month
2,024 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Columbia, SC?

In the past year, rent has increased by 0.1%, which averages out to $1 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 May 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Columbia, SC
Last Updated May 2026
$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
50% $1,001 - $1,500/month
23% $1,501 - $2,000/month
6% 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, 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
$1,013/month
747 Sq Ft
St Andrews
$1,093/month
704 Sq Ft
Hopkins Suburban
$1,194/month
698 Sq Ft
Rosewood
$1,300/month
681 Sq Ft
Fort Jackson
$1,314/month
898 Sq Ft
Arthurtown
$1,338/month
696 Sq Ft
Outer East Central
$1,358/month
647 Sq Ft
Wildewood
$1,363/month
832 Sq Ft
Northeast Arcadia Lakes
$1,365/month
796 Sq Ft
Robert Mills
$1,377/month
538 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
$1,855/month
742 Sq Ft
Congaree Vista
$1,712/month
805 Sq Ft
Downtown Columbia
$1,571/month
709 Sq Ft
Arsenal Hill
$1,530/month
694 Sq Ft
University Hill
$1,513/month
600 Sq Ft
Greek Village
$1,463/month
639 Sq Ft
East Columbia
$1,437/month
741 Sq Ft
Main Street District
$1,430/month
602 Sq Ft
Irmo-Seven Oaks
$1,403/month
803 Sq Ft
Granby Hill
$1,398/month
690 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
$1,437/month
741 Sq Ft
Northeast Arcadia Lakes
$1,365/month
796 Sq Ft
St Andrews
$1,093/month
704 Sq Ft
Downtown Columbia
$1,571/month
709 Sq Ft
Hopkins Suburban
$1,194/month
698 Sq Ft
Main Street District
$1,430/month
602 Sq Ft
Rosewood
$1,300/month
681 Sq Ft
Irmo-Seven Oaks
$1,403/month
803 Sq Ft
Wildewood
$1,363/month
832 Sq Ft
Congaree Vista
$1,712/month
805 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 $1,167, you’ll want to make about $3,890 per month or $46,680 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 10.3% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Columbia is 29.8% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $979 - $1,812. You can expect to pay 1.2% less for groceries, 0.1% more for utilities, and 9.1% less for transportation.

City

Columbia, SC

5,058 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

Far North Columbia

Columbia, SC

Bull Street

Columbia, SC

Studio
$620/month
$1,502/month
One Bedroom
$705/month
$1,758/month
Two Bedroom
-
$2,332/month
Three Bedroom
-
$3,041/month
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 Flats at Crosspointe

The Flats at Crosspointe

1600 Ellie Dr,
Columbia, SC 29203

$1,642 - $2,337

1-3 Beds

The Lady

The Lady

1310 Lady St,
Columbia, SC 29201

$1,299 - $4,375

Studio - 3 Beds

The Babcock

The Babcock

2110 Pickens St,
Columbia, SC 29201

$1,595 - $2,825

1 Bed

Property Management Companies in Columbia, SC

AMC
AMC
  • 607

    Communities

  • 121,784

    Units

  • 242

    Cities

7 Communities in Columbia
Morgan Properties
Morgan Properties
  • 390

    Communities

  • 108,283

    Units

  • 237

    Cities

6 Communities in Columbia
Stonemark Management
Stonemark Management
  • 54

    Communities

  • 13,127

    Units

  • 41

    Cities

6 Communities in Columbia
Greystar
Greystar
  • 3,501

    Communities

  • 963,127

    Units

  • 893

    Cities

5 Communities in Columbia
Willow Bridge
Willow Bridge
  • 708

    Communities

  • 195,986

    Units

  • 336

    Cities

5 Communities in Columbia
Monarch Investment and Management Group
Monarch Investment and Management Group
  • 321

    Communities

  • 78,198

    Units

  • 146

    Cities

4 Communities in Columbia
DLH Properties
DLH Properties
  • 27

    Communities

  • 4,787

    Units

  • 18

    Cities

4 Communities in Columbia
Arnold Companies
Arnold Companies
  • 19

    Communities

  • 3,273

    Units

  • 14

    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.

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