Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on August 1, 2026
Average rent in
Columbia, SC
Average rent in
Last updated on August 1, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
Where Columbia rent stands today
Columbia, SC rent rose modestly year over year, with a current median of $1,575/month. Rent increased by $16 compared to last year, while month-over-month rent is unchanged.
Compared to national trends
Columbia is 18.8% more affordable than the $1,940/month national median, providing a more accessible market for renters compared to many other metros.
Price ranges
Rents in Columbia range from studios at $1,100/month to 4+ bedrooms at $2,300/month. The 3-bedroom segment is the most common, making up 38.0% of rentals. The 4+ bedroom median rent of $2,300/month represents the upper end of the market.
Neighborhood spotlight
Forest Hills North and Kilbourne Park saw rents fall 65.8% year over year to $1,350/month and $1,300/month respectively, while University Hills rents rose 33.6% to $2,338/month. These shifts contrast with the citywide modest increase and show localized volatility.
Median rent
Median rent in Columbia
$1,575/mo
2%vs previous year
The average rent in Columbia is $1,575 per month as of August 2026. This is 18% below the national average rent, or $355 less per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in Columbia
618
for rent on Zumper.com as of August 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of Columbia rentals at each price point
Rent trends in Columbia, SC
Average rent prices in Columbia have remained the same over the last month and have increased by 2% since last year.
Rent trends
Rent prices on this page are calculated on a rolling 30-day basis and updated daily.
Compare rent prices in
Columbia, SC
Rent prices in Columbia vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in Columbia is $1,272, whereas a house costs $1,800. 1-bedroom apartments in Columbia run $1,029 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $1,250.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,100 | 9% | 21% | |
1 bedroom | $1,046 | 3% | 4% | |
2 bedroom | $1,300 | No Change | 1% | |
3 bedroom | $1,800 | No Change |  1% | |
4 bedroom | $2,300 | 1% | 3% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Central Rosewood | $1,800 | |
Earlewood | $2,000 | |
Elmwood Park | $2,000 | |
Hollywood Rosehill | $1,325 | |
Hyatt Park | $1,100 | |
Olympia | $1,995 | |
Shandon | $1,600 | |
South Kilbourne | $1,390 | |
The Congaree Vista | $1,695 | |
University Hills | $2,337 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $1,272 | No Change | No Change | |
Condos | $1,262 | 1% | No Change | |
Houses | $1,800 | 1% | No Change | |
Rooms | $950 | 16% | - |
Studio
Average rent
$1,100
Last 30 days
9%
Last year
21%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$1,046
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
4%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$1,300
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
1%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$1,800
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
1%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$2,300
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
3%
South Kilbourne
Average rent
$1,390
Shandon
Average rent
$1,600
Earlewood
Average rent
$2,000
University Hills
Average rent
$2,337
Olympia
Average rent
$1,995
The Congaree Vista
Average rent
$1,695
Hollywood Rosehill
Average rent
$1,325
Hyatt Park
Average rent
$1,100
Elmwood Park
Average rent
$2,000
Central Rosewood
Average rent
$1,800
Apartments
Average rent
$1,272
Last 30 days
No Change
Condos
Average rent
$1,262
Last 30 days
1%
Houses
Average rent
$1,800
Last 30 days
1%
Rooms
Average rent
$950
Last 30 days
16%
The table above reflects average rent prices in Columbia, SC, broken down by the number of bedrooms, neighborhoods, and property types. The availability of data for each category is dependent on market inventory and will adjust depending on your selected filters.
How does rent in Columbia, SC compare to other cities?
Compare median rent prices in Columbia and Augusta by all bedroom counts and property types.
Columbia
18%lower than the national median
30%lower than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in Columbia, SC is 17% higher than the median rent in Augusta, GA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$1,350
2%$2,200
$1,475
9%$1,550
$1,750
21%$1,945
1%$1,622
12%$2,000
6%$2,400
13%$1,895
11%$1,900
5%$1,606
1%Cost of living in Columbia, SC
Explore the cost of essential expenses, and then use our rent calculator to find out how much rent you can afford.
Expenses accrued by most renters | Average cost compared to national average |
|---|---|
| Goods & Services | 1% lower |
| Groceries | 1% lower |
| Health | 1% lower |
| Housing | 29% lower |
| Transportation | 8% lower |
| Utilities | No difference |
Discover rentals in Columbia, SC
4d ago
1513 Farrington Way, Columbia, SC 29210
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$555–$1,735
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Condo for rent in Columbia
4 beds
4.5 baths
$780
Condo for rent
Available Aug 1
5d+ ago
Booker Washington Heights apartment for rent in Columbia
2 beds
1 bath
$795
Apartment for rent
3d ago
3700 West Ave, Columbia, SC 29203
1–2 beds
1 bath
$800–$850
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Wales Garden house for rent in Columbia
106 Pickens St #B, Columbia, SC 29205
4 beds
2 baths
$5,500
House for rent
Available Aug 5
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in Columbia
1408 Gregg Street #A, Columbia, SC 29201
5 beds
3 baths
$5,000
Apartment for rent
Available Jul 6
5d+ ago
Olympia house for rent in Columbia
617 Kentucky St #1, Columbia, SC 29201
5 beds
4 baths
$4,500
House for rent
Available Jul 1
5d+ ago
House for rent in Columbia
1620A Catawba St #1, Columbia, SC 29205
4 beds
2 baths
$4,400
House for rent
Available Jul 15
3h ago
Verified
2050 N Beltline Blvd, Columbia, SC 29204
Studio–3 beds
1–2 baths
$931–$1,335
Apartment for rent
12h ago
Verified
1310 Oakcrest Dr, Columbia, SC 29223
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,282–$2,747
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 1
15h ago
Verified
4615 Forest Dr, Columbia, SC 29206
Studio–3 beds
1–3 baths
$1,512–$10,113
Apartment for rent
19h ago
Verified
1340 N Brickyard Rd, Columbia, SC 29223
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,428–$2,259
Apartment for rent
3h ago
Verified
2050 N Beltline Blvd, Columbia, SC 29204
Studio–3 beds
1–2 baths
$931–$1,335
Apartment for rent
2d ago
Verified
111 Elders Pond Cir Ste B, Columbia, SC 29229
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$955–$1,195
Apartment for rent
Available May 13
12h ago
Verified
1310 Oakcrest Dr, Columbia, SC 29223
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,282–$2,747
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 1
15h ago
Verified
4615 Forest Dr, Columbia, SC 29206
Studio–3 beds
1–3 baths
$1,512–$10,113
Apartment for rent
3h ago
Verified
2050 N Beltline Blvd, Columbia, SC 29204
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$931–$1,335
Apartment for rent
12h ago
Verified
1310 Oakcrest Dr, Columbia, SC 29223
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,282–$2,747
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 1
3d ago
Verified
111 Elders Pond Cir Ste B, Columbia, SC 29229
2 beds
2 baths
$1,145–$1,195
Apartment for rent
1d ago
1101 Hallbrook Dr, Columbia, SC 29209
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$899–$999
Apartment for rent
Stay up to date with rental market insights
Are you interested in licensing our current and historical rental real estate data, or do you have custom data requests? Contact datalicensing@zumper.com.
Frequently asked questions for Columbia, SC
Quick answers to common questions about the Columbia rental market.
How much is rent in Columbia?
The average rent in Columbia is $1,575 per month as of August 1, 2026.
Is rent up or down in Columbia?
Average rent prices in Columbia have remained the same over the last month and have increased by 2% since last year.
How does Columbia rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Columbia is 18% below the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $355 less per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in Columbia?
The most affordable neighborhoods in Columbia are Hyatt Park ($1,100/mo), Hollywood Rosehill ($1,325/mo), and South Kilbourne ($1,390/mo).
What salary do I need to afford rent in Columbia?
To comfortably afford rent in Columbia, you'd need to earn approximately $63,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.
When is the best time of year to rent in Columbia?
Based on Zumper's July 2026 data, one-bedroom apartments in Columbia average around $1,050/month and two-bedrooms approximately $1,300/month.
Methodology
Rent prices are based on Zumper's rental listings from the past 30 days. Median rent is calculated across all available listings and property types on the platform. If you filter the page by bedroom count or property type, the pricing throughout the page will update automatically to reflect that segment of the rental market.
Household and population data come from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cost-of-living data is sourced from the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index (COLI).