Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on September 16, 2026
Average rent in
Columbia, SC
Average rent in
Last updated on September 16, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
Where Columbia rent stands today
Columbia, SC rent is essentially flat year over year, with a current median of $1,525/month. Month over month, rents cooled by 2.8% after peaking near $1,600/month in July 2026.
Compared to national trends
Columbia sits 19.7% more affordable than the $1,900/month national median, with 613 total rentals offering a moderate-sized market for renters.
Price ranges
Rents in Columbia range from studios at $1,008/month to 4+ bedrooms at $2,300/month, with houses renting for a median of $1,750/month and apartments at $1,250/month. The market is weighted toward larger units, with 3-bedrooms making up 38.2% of inventory.
Neighborhood spotlight
Kilbourne Park rents fell 52.4% year over year to $1,425/month across 16 rentals, a large local decline compared to the citywide flat trend. Nearby Ridgewood Monticello also cooled by 23.4%, while University Hills rents rose 19.9%.
Median rent
Median rent in Columbia
$1,525/mo
vs previous year
The average rent in Columbia is $1,525 per month as of September 2026. This is 20% below the national average rent, or $375 less per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in Columbia
613
for rent on Zumper.com as of September 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of Columbia rentals at each price point
Rent trends in Columbia, SC
Average rent prices in Columbia have decreased by 3% over the last month and have remained the same 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 $1,249, whereas a house costs $1,750. 1-bedroom apartments in Columbia run $1,035 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $1,250.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,008 |  5% |  1% | |
1 bedroom | $1,037 | 2% | 2% | |
2 bedroom | $1,250 | No Change | 2% | |
3 bedroom | $1,724 | 1% | 3% | |
4 bedroom | $2,299 | No Change | 6% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Colonial Park | $1,300 | |
Earlewood | $1,995 | |
Elmwood Park | $1,375 | |
Hollywood Rosehill | $1,800 | |
Olympia | $2,097 | |
Pinehurst | $1,595 | |
Shandon | $1,700 | |
South Kilbourne | $1,340 | |
The Congaree Vista | $1,695 | |
University Hills | $2,337 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $1,249 | 1% | No Change | |
Condos | $1,195 | No Change | No Change | |
Houses | $1,750 | 1% | No Change | |
Rooms | $1,100 | 2% | - |
Studio
Average rent
$1,008
Last 30 days
5%
Last year
1%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$1,037
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
2%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$1,250
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
2%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$1,724
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
3%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$2,299
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
6%
South Kilbourne
Average rent
$1,340
Shandon
Average rent
$1,700
Earlewood
Average rent
$1,995
Olympia
Average rent
$2,097
University Hills
Average rent
$2,337
Elmwood Park
Average rent
$1,375
The Congaree Vista
Average rent
$1,695
Hollywood Rosehill
Average rent
$1,800
Colonial Park
Average rent
$1,300
Pinehurst
Average rent
$1,595
Apartments
Average rent
$1,249
Last 30 days
1%
Condos
Average rent
$1,195
Last 30 days
No Change
Houses
Average rent
$1,750
Last 30 days
1%
Rooms
Average rent
$1,100
Last 30 days
2%
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
20%lower than the national median
29%lower than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in Columbia, SC is 13% higher than the median rent in Augusta, GA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$1,350
7%$2,015
7%$1,400
12%$1,395
$1,475
$1,900
7%$1,635
10%$1,795
3%$2,070
4%$1,850
7%$1,872
7%$1,535
2%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
7h ago
1513 Farrington Way, Columbia, SC 29210
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$555–$1,735
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
3700 West Ave, Columbia, SC 29203
1–2 beds
1 bath
$750–$850
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Booker Washington Heights apartment for rent in Columbia
2 beds
1 bath
$795
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
House for rent in Columbia
3 beds
2 baths
$800
House for rent
Available Jul 1
5d+ ago
Shandon apartment for rent in Columbia
106 106 Pickens StreetApt. B #B, Columbia, SC 29205
4 beds
2 baths
$5,500
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 1
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in Columbia
1408A Gregg St #A, Columbia, SC 29201
5 beds
3 baths
$5,000
Apartment for rent
Available Jul 6
5d+ ago
University Hills house for rent in Columbia
3 beds
2 baths
$4,600
House for rent
Available Mar 18
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
54m ago
Verified
4615 Forest Dr, Columbia, SC 29206
Studio–3 beds
1–3 baths
$1,497–$8,684
Apartment for rent
2h ago
Verified
1340 N Brickyard Rd, Columbia, SC 29223
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,489–$2,233
Apartment for rent
7h ago
Verified
1310 Oakcrest Dr, Columbia, SC 29223
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,260–$2,679
Price drop
Apartment for rent
Available Sep 15
19h ago
Verified
2038 Lake Murray Blvd, Columbia, SC 29212
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,516–$2,119
Apartment for rent
5d+ 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
5d+ ago
Verified
6546 Haley Dr #NA, Columbia, SC 29206
3 beds
2 baths
$1,785
House for rent
Available Aug 1
54m ago
Verified
4615 Forest Dr, Columbia, SC 29206
Studio–3 beds
1–3 baths
$1,497–$8,684
Apartment for rent
2h ago
Verified
1340 N Brickyard Rd, Columbia, SC 29223
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,489–$2,233
Apartment for rent
54m ago
Verified
4615 Forest Dr, Columbia, SC 29206
Studio–3 beds
1–3 baths
$1,497–$8,684
Apartment for rent
2h ago
Verified
1340 N Brickyard Rd, Columbia, SC 29223
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,489–$2,233
Apartment for rent
7h ago
Verified
1310 Oakcrest Dr, Columbia, SC 29223
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,260–$2,679
Price drop
Apartment for rent
Available Sep 15
19h ago
Verified
2038 Lake Murray Blvd, Columbia, SC 29212
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,516–$2,119
Apartment for rent
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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 $1,525 per month as of September 12, 2026.
Is rent up or down in Columbia?
Average rent prices in Columbia have decreased by 3% over the last month and have remained the same since last year.
How does Columbia rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Columbia is 20% below the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $375 less per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in Columbia?
The most affordable neighborhoods in Columbia are Colonial Park ($1,300/mo), South Kilbourne ($1,340/mo), and Elmwood Park ($1,375/mo).
What salary do I need to afford rent in Columbia?
To comfortably afford rent in Columbia, you'd need to earn approximately $61,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.
When is the best time of year to rent in Columbia?
January offers the best rental deals in Columbia, with rents running about 6.6% lower than peak summer months. July sees the highest rents while December is the least competitive month for apartment hunting.
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).