Studio Apartment Rent in Columbus, OH
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Columbus, Ohio as of July 2026. That's +27% lower than the citywide median of $1,456 and +18% below the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio 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 studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Columbus
Compare Columbus's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in Ohio
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashland | $610 |
| 2 | Austintown | $610 |
| 3 | Louisville | $640 |
| 4 | Orrville | $650 |
| 5 | Canton | $657 |
| 6 | Alliance | $660 |
| 7 | Boardman | $660 |
| 8 | Greenville | $660 |
| 9 | Massillon | $660 |
| 10 | Niles | $660 |
| 11 | Warren | $660 |
| 12 | Sidney | $670 |
| 13 | Wooster | $670 |
| 14 | Silverton | $679 |
| 15 | Findlay | $690 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in Ohio
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Albany | $1,540 |
| 2 | Pickerington | $1,420 |
| 3 | Sunbury | $1,410 |
| 4 | Dublin | $1,400 |
| 5 | Westerville | $1,375 |
| 6 | Lewis Center | $1,350 |
| 7 | Mason | $1,320 |
| 8 | Powell | $1,300 |
| 9 | Maineville | $1,280 |
| 10 | Gahanna | $1,280 |
| 11 | Avon Lake | $1,280 |
| 12 | Hilliard | $1,270 |
| 13 | Avon | $1,270 |
| 14 | Upper Arlington | $1,235 |
| 15 | Westlake | $1,220 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 1 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Columbus.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Columbus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Arlington, OH | 7.6 mi | $1,235 | +$171 (+16%) |
| Gahanna, OH | 8 mi | $1,280 | +$216 (+20%) |
| Whitehall, OH | 8.1 mi | $980 | $-84 (-8%) |
| Westerville, OH | 11.6 mi | $1,375 | +$311 (+29%) |
| Blacklick, OH | 12.5 mi | $1,180 | +$116 (+11%) |
| Grove City, OH | 12.7 mi | $1,090 | +$26 (+2%) |
| Reynoldsburg, OH | 13.4 mi | $1,110 | +$46 (+4%) |
| Dublin, OH | 13.8 mi | $1,400 | +$336 (+32%) |
| New Albany, OH | 13.9 mi | $1,540 | +$476 (+45%) |
| Lewis Center, OH | 13.9 mi | $1,350 | +$286 (+27%) |
| Hilliard, OH | 15.2 mi | $1,270 | +$206 (+19%) |
| Powell, OH | 15.4 mi | $1,300 | +$236 (+22%) |
Studio rent in Columbus — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Columbus?
As of July 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Columbus, Ohio is $1,064 per month. This is +27% below the citywide median of $1,456.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Columbus?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $42,560 ($3,547/month gross), which works out to roughly $20.46/hour at a full-time job.
Is Columbus expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Columbus's studio median of $1,064 is +18% below the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 33th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Columbus rank for studio rent in Ohio?
Among the 119 cities in Ohio with studio data, Columbus ranks #90 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Columbus?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Whitehall ($980).