Last updated
Average Rent in Columbia SC & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 6 apartment communities in Columbia SC. Updated daily.
Market Average
$1,475/mo
▲ +0.3% from last month
Lowest Available
$750/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
6
tracked daily
Units Listed
47
available now
Rent by Neighborhood in Columbia SC
Compare average rent across Columbia SC neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends.
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent | From | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia 29169 | $1,883 | $1,570 | 1 | 29 |
| Midtown - Downtown | $1,664 | $1,075 | 3 | 28 |
| Shandon | $1,636 | $750 | 1 | 7 |
| Columbia 29209 | $1,257 | $1,080 | 1 | 38 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Columbia SC?
As of May 2026, the average rent in Columbia SC is $1,475 per month across 6 apartment communities and 47 available units. Rents have increased $5 (0.3%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is Fowler Real Estate starting at $750/mo. By unit type, a 1-bedroom averages $1,475/mo.
Prices range from $750 to $2,277 per month. The most common price point is the $1,000 range, where 17 units are currently listed.
Columbia SC Rent Price History
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Columbia SC
Rent Prices by Apartment in Columbia SC
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fowler Real Estate | $750/mo | $750/mo | 1 | 3.7 |
| Hampton Greene Apartment Homes | $1,080/mo | $1,123/mo | 20 | 3.5 |
| Wolfe & Taylor, Inc. | $1,200/mo | $1,398/mo | 2 | 3.6 |
| Brookland and 4 West | $1,570/mo | $1,712/mo | 19 | 4.2 |
| VERVE Columbia | $2,025/mo | $2,025/mo | 1 | 5 |
| Bennet at BullStreet | $2,112/mo | $2,196/mo | 4 | 4.5 |
Google Search Trends for Columbia SC Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Columbia SC
What is the average rent in Columbia SC?
Is rent going up or down in Columbia SC?
What is the cheapest apartment in Columbia SC?
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Columbia SC?
How many apartments are available in Columbia SC?
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
$59,000/year
30 percent rule -- using our average rent of $1,475/mo.
Comfortable income
$71,000/year
25 percent rule -- leaves more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($750/mo), you need to earn at least $30,000/year.
Median household income in Columbia SC is $55,653 , about 21% 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) | $1,475 |
| Utilities | $337 |
| Groceries | $518 |
| Transportation | $804 |
| Healthcare | $392 |
| Other goods and services | $628 |
| Estimated total | $4,154/mo |
Population
138,019
Median household income
$55,653
Census median rent
$1,158/mo
Rent as % of income
34.5%
Median age
28.7
Mean commute
17 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
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
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
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.
Explore Columbia SC Apartments
Browse all 6 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.