At $1,616/mo, rent takes about 26% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,616 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Columbia Heights changed +8.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 53 Minnesota cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($73,691) is $1,842 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,500); a 3-bedroom is $2,000.
Brooklyn Center, 3 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,395/mo), about $2,700 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Columbia Heights. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Columbia Heights, MN is majority owner-occupied, 32.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Columbia Heights, MN has changed in 5 years
On the earnings side, the typical household in Columbia Heights, MN now reports about $73,691, up from $69,460 in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 21,612 to 22,155 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.5% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 29.3% to 32.5%.
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Can you afford rent in Columbia Heights on your salary?
At $1,616/mo, how Columbia Heights rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Columbia Heights rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Columbia Heights. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Columbia Heights
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Columbia Heights is $1,616/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,090/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,500/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,230/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,000/mo.
At 26% of local median household income ($73,691/yr), Columbia Heights ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 8.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Columbia Heights?
Is rent going up or down in Columbia Heights?
How does Columbia Heights rent compare to other cities in Minnesota?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Columbia Heights?
At $1,616/mo, rent takes ~26% of Columbia Heights's median household income ($73,691/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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