1-Bedroom Apartment Rent in Columbia, PA
Median asking rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Columbia, Pennsylvania as of July 2026. That's +26% lower than the citywide median of $1,291 and +31% below the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395.
Income needed for a 1-bedroom in Columbia
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 Columbia
Compare Columbia's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a 1-bedroom in Pennsylvania
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Homestead | $658 |
| 2 | New Castle | $690 |
| 3 | Sharon | $720 |
| 4 | Johnstown | $730 |
| 5 | Grove City | $740 |
| 6 | Pottsville | $750 |
| 7 | Meadville | $770 |
| 8 | DuBois | $790 |
| 9 | Vandergrift | $790 |
| 10 | Indiana | $800 |
| 11 | Lewisburg | $820 |
| 12 | Lock Haven | $820 |
| 13 | Etna | $825 |
| 14 | Erie | $828 |
| 15 | Beaver | $830 |
Most expensive cities for a 1-bedroom in Pennsylvania
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glen Mills | $2,270 |
| 2 | Wynnewood | $2,220 |
| 3 | Newtown | $2,220 |
| 4 | Blue Bell | $2,220 |
| 5 | Wayne | $2,130 |
| 6 | Exton | $2,110 |
| 7 | Chadds Ford | $2,110 |
| 8 | Malvern | $2,080 |
| 9 | Bryn Mawr | $2,070 |
| 10 | King of Prussia | $2,030 |
| 11 | Conshohocken | $2,010 |
| 12 | Devon | $2,000 |
| 13 | Plymouth Meeting | $1,980 |
| 14 | Bala-Cynwyd | $1,910 |
| 15 | Wyncote | $1,900 |
Nearby cities — 1-bedroom rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 1 of these cities have cheaper 1-bedroom rents than Columbia.
| City | Distance | 1-Bedroom rent | vs Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Joy, PA | 5 mi | $1,140 | +$180 (+19%) |
| Red Lion, PA | 11.9 mi | $950 | $-10 (-1%) |
| Lancaster, PA | 13 mi | $1,173 | +$213 (+22%) |
| Mount Wolf, PA | 14 mi | $1,310 | +$350 (+36%) |
| Lititz, PA | 16.4 mi | $1,120 | +$160 (+17%) |
| Camp Hill, PA | 33.4 mi | $1,230 | +$270 (+28%) |
| Hanover, PA | 38.1 mi | $1,080 | +$120 (+13%) |
| Cockeysville, MD | 40 mi | $1,630 | +$670 (+70%) |
| Wyomissing, PA | 41 mi | $1,490 | +$530 (+55%) |
| Reading, PA | 43.4 mi | $1,088 | +$128 (+13%) |
| Edgewood, MD | 43.8 mi | $1,480 | +$520 (+54%) |
| Reisterstown, MD | 43.9 mi | $1,560 | +$600 (+63%) |
1-Bedroom rent in Columbia — common questions
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Columbia?
As of July 2026, the median 1-bedroom apartment rent in Columbia, Pennsylvania is $960 per month. This is +26% below the citywide median of $1,291.
What income do you need to afford a 1-bedroom in Columbia?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $38,400 ($3,200/month gross), which works out to roughly $18.46/hour at a full-time job.
Is Columbia expensive for a 1-bedroom compared to the rest of the US?
Columbia's 1-bedroom median of $960 is +31% below the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395. It ranks in the 17th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Columbia rank for 1-bedroom rent in Pennsylvania?
Among the 165 cities in Pennsylvania with 1-bedroom data, Columbia ranks #33 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper 1-bedroom options near Columbia?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper 1-bedroom rents include Red Lion ($950).