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Rental Market Trends in Columbia, SC

What is the average rent in Columbia, SC?

$1,175/month

Average Rent

730 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+0.3%

Increase in the Last Year

Columbia, SC Rental Market Overview

The average rent in Columbia, SC is $1,175 per month. This is 29% lower than the national average rent of $1,644/month, making renting in Columbia more affordable than most cities in the US.

  • Studio apartments in Columbia average $1,014 per month.
  • One-bedroom apartments in Columbia average $1,175 per month.
  • Two-bedroom apartments in Columbia average $1,373 per month.
  • Three-bedroom apartments in Columbia average $1,794 or more per month.

Data Updated: June, 2026

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$1,014/month
452 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,175/month
730 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,373/month
1,061 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,794/month
1,276 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,244/month
699 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,381/month
871 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,889/month
1,405 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$2,498/month
2,098 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,185/month
732 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,528/month
935 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,796/month
1,385 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,148/month
503 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,380/month
957 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,020/month
1,370 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$4,067/month
1,980 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Columbia, SC?

In the past year, rent has increased by 0.3%, which averages out to $4 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 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Columbia, SC
Last Updated June 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
51% $1,001 - $1,500/month
22% $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
$1,030/month
719 Sq Ft
St Andrews
$1,060/month
700 Sq Ft
Hopkins Suburban
$1,181/month
712 Sq Ft
Fort Jackson
$1,205/month
894 Sq Ft
Robert Mills
$1,237/month
543 Sq Ft
Laurel Hill
$1,273/month
847 Sq Ft
Outer East Central
$1,294/month
650 Sq Ft
Rosewood
$1,330/month
699 Sq Ft
Northeast Arcadia Lakes
$1,360/month
803 Sq Ft
Arthurtown
$1,367/month
686 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Columbia?

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

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Congaree Vista
$1,788/month
818 Sq Ft
Bull Street
$1,758/month
661 Sq Ft
University Hill
$1,613/month
665 Sq Ft
Arsenal Hill
$1,574/month
729 Sq Ft
Downtown Columbia
$1,573/month
720 Sq Ft
Greek Village
$1,474/month
655 Sq Ft
Main Street District
$1,455/month
627 Sq Ft
Irmo-Seven Oaks
$1,403/month
816 Sq Ft
Granby Hill
$1,400/month
689 Sq Ft
Wildewood
$1,386/month
837 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
$1,360/month
803 Sq Ft
St Andrews
$1,060/month
700 Sq Ft
Downtown Columbia
$1,573/month
720 Sq Ft
Irmo-Seven Oaks
$1,403/month
816 Sq Ft
Hopkins Suburban
$1,181/month
712 Sq Ft
Main Street District
$1,455/month
627 Sq Ft
Wildewood
$1,386/month
837 Sq Ft
Rosewood
$1,330/month
699 Sq Ft
Congaree Vista
$1,788/month
818 Sq Ft
University Hill
$1,613/month
665 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 $1,175, you’ll want to make about $3,916 per month or $46,992 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 $1,014 - $1,794. You can expect to pay 1.2% less for groceries, 0.1% more for utilities, and 9.1% less for transportation.

City

Columbia, SC

5,050 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

Congaree Vista

Columbia, SC

Studio
$620/month
$1,405/month
One Bedroom
$705/month
$1,616/month
Two Bedroom
-
$2,264/month
Three Bedroom
-
$5,595/month
Search
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Nearby City Rent Trends

  • West Columbia Average Rent
  • Cayce 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 Babcock

The Babcock

2110 Pickens St,
Columbia, SC 29201

$1,321 - $1,725

1 Bed

The Flats at Crosspointe

The Flats at Crosspointe

1600 Ellie Dr,
Columbia, SC 29203

$1,508 - $2,337

1-3 Beds

The Lady

The Lady

1310 Lady St,
Columbia, SC 29201

$1,356 - $4,375

Studio - 3 Beds

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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 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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© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity