Average Rent in Columbia, SC
What is the average rent in Columbia, SC?
The average listed apartment rent in Columbia, SC is $1,785 per month, as of November 11, 2026. This sample includes 118 priced apartments in 5 buildings. These are tracked asking prices, not signed leases.
We use published total monthly rent when known and base rent otherwise. Unknown fees remain unknown. Included building observations run from November 8, 2026 through November 11, 2026. Buildings without a qualifying price do not count in this sample. The guide directory can include more buildings.
5 apartment buildings, 118 units. Recorded asking prices and price history where available.
Browse apartments in Columbia, SCCheapest
$1,224/mo
Broad River Trace
Properties
5
tracked daily
Units
118
available now
Columbia, SC Resident Access
City Club members share insider gate codes, parking links, and amenity tips.
Analysis
Rent Price Breakdown
Compare pricing across all 5 properties in Columbia, SC.
Average rent trend, last 3 months
All bedroom types, citywide. Choose a window above to scope the view.
Average Rent by Property
Starting Price vs Average
Rent by Bedroom Count
Price per Square Foot
Columbia, SC Rent Prices
All 5 properties ranked by lowest available rent.
Broad River Trace
551 Riverhill Cir, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Hampton Greene Apartment Homes
500 Gills Creek Pkwy, Columbia, SC 29209, USA
Sola Station
325 Taylor St, Columbia, SC 29201, USA
Bennet at BullStreet
2180 Pickens St, Columbia, SC 29201, USA
Brookland and 4 West
127 State St, West Columbia, SC 29169, USA
Devine District
2712 Lee St, Columbia, SC 29205, USA
Vista Commons Apartments
1100 Pulaski St, Columbia, SC 29201, USA
| # | Property | From | Avg | $/sqft | Rating | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Broad River Trace 551 Riverhill Cir, Columbia, SC 29210, USA | $1,224 | $1,410 | $1.34/ft² | 4.4 (135) | 16 |
| 2 | Hampton Greene Apartment Homes 500 Gills Creek Pkwy, Columbia, SC 29209, USA | $1,240 | $1,381 | $1.59/ft² | 3.5 (164) | 17 |
| 3 | Sola Station 325 Taylor St, Columbia, SC 29201, USA | $1,412 | $1,694 | $2.01/ft² | 3.6 (100) | 40 |
| 4 | Bennet at BullStreet 2180 Pickens St, Columbia, SC 29201, USA | $1,464 | $2,123 | $2.27/ft² | 4.5 (80) | 30 |
| 5 | Brookland and 4 West 127 State St, West Columbia, SC 29169, USA | $1,535 as of Oct 2 | $1,888 | $2.15/ft² | 4.2 (81) | 22 |
| 6 | Devine District 2712 Lee St, Columbia, SC 29205, USA | $1,750 as of Sep 16 | $2,349 | -- | 4.7 (46) | 19 |
| 7 | Vista Commons Apartments 1100 Pulaski St, Columbia, SC 29201, USA | $1,805 | $2,208 | $2.41/ft² | 4.5 (135) | 15 |
Rent & Price History by Building
Compare apartment listings by price, bedrooms, and neighborhood.
Broad River Trace
4.4 (135)551 Riverhill Cir, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Hampton Greene Apartment Homes
3.5 (164)500 Gills Creek Pkwy, Columbia, SC 29209, USA
Sola Station
3.6 (100)325 Taylor St, Columbia, SC 29201, USA
Bennet at BullStreet
4.5 (80)2180 Pickens St, Columbia, SC 29201, USA
Brookland and 4 West
4.2 (81)127 State St, West Columbia, SC 29169, USA
Devine District
4.7 (46)2712 Lee St, Columbia, SC 29205, USA
By Area
Columbia, SC neighborhoods
Tracked buildings across 5 named neighborhoods. Pick one to see its apartments.
Columbia, SC Average Rent Prices 2026
The average listed rent in Columbia, SC is $1,785 per month, based on 118 units across 5 apartment communities. Prices range from $1,224 at Broad River Trace to $3,381 at Bennet at BullStreet.
Average Rent by Bedroom Type
| Type | Avg Rent | Starting From | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,602/mo | $1,434/mo | 12 |
| 1 Bed | $1,623/mo | $1,224/mo | 57 |
| 2 Bed | $1,942/mo | $1,399/mo | 43 |
| 3 Bed | $2,558/mo | $1,694/mo | 6 |
We schedule daily price checks. The included observations can have different dates. Request an area we do not cover so we can review it for coverage.
Market Context
Who rents in Columbia, SC, and what they pay
Tracked one-bedroom rent in Columbia, SC averages $1,623/mo , with two-bedroom units averaging $1,942/mo. At the local median household income of $55,653, that works out to 38% of gross income, above the 30 percent affordability ceiling, a stretched-budget market.
The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2023 release pegged median gross rent in Columbia, SC at $1,158/mo. The current tracked market average runs 54% higher than that benchmark, reflecting both two to three years of rent growth and the fact that the Census figure covers all renter-occupied housing in Columbia, SC while the tracked market average covers units currently listed in larger apartment communities.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Columbia, SC?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$71,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $1,785/mo.
Comfortable income
$86,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,224/mo), you need to earn at least $49,000/year.
Median household income in Columbia, SC is $55,653 , about 35% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Columbia, SC
Overall prices in Columbia, SC runs below the national average by about 7% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 93.2, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Columbia, SC's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $1,785 |
| Utilities | $337 |
| Groceries | $518 |
| Transportation | $804 |
| Healthcare | $392 |
| Other goods and services | $628 |
| Estimated total | $4,464/mo |
Population
138,019
Median household income
$55,653
Census median rent
$1,158/mo
Census rent burden
34.5%
Median age
28.7
Mean commute
17 min
Methodology
Rent data
We use listed asking rents and schedule daily data updates. Individual buildings can have different verification dates. Check the building or unit page for its latest price and availability.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
We estimate annual income by dividing annual rent by 30 percent for the affordability figure and 25 percent for the comfortable-income figure. These estimates are a guide, not a guarantee of rental approval.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Compare
Nearby cities in South Carolina
How Columbia, SC rent compares to other markets in the state.
| City | Avg Rent | vs Columbia, SC | 30-Day Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC | $2,549 | +43% | +4.5% | 20 |
| Greenville, SC | $1,804 | +1% | +5.3% | 15 |
| North Charleston, SC | $1,901 | +6% | -2% | 14 |
| Summerville, SC | $1,847 | +3% | +3.9% | 12 |
| Rock Hill, SC | $1,451 | -19% | -1.2% | 10 |
| MT Pleasant, SC | $3,129 | +75% | +23.6% | 8 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Columbia, SC?
The average listed apartment rent in Columbia, SC is $1,785 per month, as of November 11, 2026. This sample includes 118 priced apartments in 5 buildings. These are tracked asking prices, not signed leases.
What is the median rent in Columbia, SC?
The median asking rent in Columbia, SC is $1,587 per month, computed from 118 priced listings; check the observation dates shown on this page. The average is $1,785/mo; the median resists skew from luxury listings.
What is the cheapest apartment rent in Columbia, SC?
The lowest available rent in Columbia, SC starts at $1,224 per month. Confirm current availability, fees, and lease terms with the selected listing.
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Columbia, SC?
1-bedroom apartments in Columbia, SC average $1,623/mo. The lowest listed 1-bedroom starts at $1,224/mo across 57 units tracked.
How much is a 2-bedroom apartment in Columbia, SC?
2-bedroom apartments in Columbia, SC average $1,942/mo. Units start from $1,399/mo across 43 units currently listed.
Rent Trends in Columbia, SC
Track how apartment prices are changing over time.
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