1-Bedroom Apartment Rent in Columbus, OH
Median asking rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Columbus, Ohio as of July 2026. That's +21% lower than the citywide median of $1,456 and +17% below the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395.
Income needed for a 1-bedroom in Columbus
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a 1-bedroom at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Columbus
Compare Columbus's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a 1-bedroom in Ohio
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Healthy | $623 |
| 2 | Ashland | $670 |
| 3 | Austintown | $675 |
| 4 | Boardman | $700 |
| 5 | Niles | $700 |
| 6 | Warren | $700 |
| 7 | Sidney | $720 |
| 8 | Louisville | $730 |
| 9 | Vandalia | $730 |
| 10 | Canton | $739 |
| 11 | Alliance | $740 |
| 12 | Massillon | $740 |
| 13 | Orrville | $740 |
| 14 | Steubenville | $740 |
| 15 | Youngstown | $740 |
Most expensive cities for a 1-bedroom in Ohio
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beachwood | $1,873 |
| 2 | New Albany | $1,670 |
| 3 | Pickerington | $1,540 |
| 4 | Blue Ash | $1,534 |
| 5 | Sunbury | $1,520 |
| 6 | Dublin | $1,505 |
| 7 | Westerville | $1,490 |
| 8 | Mason | $1,490 |
| 9 | Lewis Center | $1,460 |
| 10 | Avon Lake | $1,440 |
| 11 | Maineville | $1,430 |
| 12 | Avon | $1,430 |
| 13 | Powell | $1,400 |
| 14 | Woodlawn | $1,394 |
| 15 | Westlake | $1,380 |
Nearby cities — 1-bedroom rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 1 of these cities have cheaper 1-bedroom rents than Columbus.
| City | Distance | 1-Bedroom rent | vs Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Arlington, OH | 7.6 mi | $1,335 | +$184 (+16%) |
| Gahanna, OH | 8 mi | $1,380 | +$229 (+20%) |
| Whitehall, OH | 8.1 mi | $1,060 | $-91 (-8%) |
| Westerville, OH | 11.6 mi | $1,490 | +$339 (+29%) |
| Blacklick, OH | 12.5 mi | $1,270 | +$119 (+10%) |
| Grove City, OH | 12.7 mi | $1,180 | +$29 (+3%) |
| Reynoldsburg, OH | 13.4 mi | $1,200 | +$49 (+4%) |
| Dublin, OH | 13.8 mi | $1,505 | +$354 (+31%) |
| New Albany, OH | 13.9 mi | $1,670 | +$519 (+45%) |
| Lewis Center, OH | 13.9 mi | $1,460 | +$309 (+27%) |
| Hilliard, OH | 15.2 mi | $1,370 | +$219 (+19%) |
| Powell, OH | 15.4 mi | $1,400 | +$249 (+22%) |
1-Bedroom rent in Columbus — common questions
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Columbus?
As of July 2026, the median 1-bedroom apartment rent in Columbus, Ohio is $1,151 per month. This is +21% below the citywide median of $1,456.
What income do you need to afford a 1-bedroom in Columbus?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $46,040 ($3,837/month gross), which works out to roughly $22.13/hour at a full-time job.
Is Columbus expensive for a 1-bedroom compared to the rest of the US?
Columbus's 1-bedroom median of $1,151 is +17% below the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395. It ranks in the 33th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Columbus rank for 1-bedroom rent in Ohio?
Among the 127 cities in Ohio with 1-bedroom data, Columbus ranks #93 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper 1-bedroom options near Columbus?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper 1-bedroom rents include Whitehall ($1,060).