Studio Apartment Rent in Columbia, PA
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Columbia, Pennsylvania as of July 2026. That's +33% lower than the citywide median of $1,291 and +33% below the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio 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 studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Columbia
Compare Columbia's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in Pennsylvania
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Castle | $620 |
| 2 | Lewisburg | $660 |
| 3 | Indiana | $720 |
| 4 | Sharon | $720 |
| 5 | Altoona | $730 |
| 6 | DuBois | $730 |
| 7 | Grove City | $730 |
| 8 | Johnstown | $730 |
| 9 | Pottsville | $730 |
| 10 | Vandergrift | $730 |
| 11 | Erie | $748 |
| 12 | Meadville | $750 |
| 13 | Bloomsburg | $760 |
| 14 | Wilkes-Barre | $770 |
| 15 | Beaver | $780 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in Pennsylvania
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glen Mills | $2,060 |
| 2 | Wynnewood | $2,020 |
| 3 | Newtown | $2,020 |
| 4 | Blue Bell | $2,010 |
| 5 | Wayne | $1,930 |
| 6 | Exton | $1,920 |
| 7 | Chadds Ford | $1,910 |
| 8 | Malvern | $1,890 |
| 9 | Bryn Mawr | $1,880 |
| 10 | King of Prussia | $1,840 |
| 11 | Conshohocken | $1,820 |
| 12 | Devon | $1,810 |
| 13 | Plymouth Meeting | $1,800 |
| 14 | Bala-Cynwyd | $1,730 |
| 15 | Wyncote | $1,720 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 1 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Columbia.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Joy, PA | 5 mi | $1,020 | +$160 (+19%) |
| Red Lion, PA | 11.9 mi | $840 | $-20 (-2%) |
| Lancaster, PA | 13 mi | $1,050 | +$190 (+22%) |
| Mount Wolf, PA | 14 mi | $1,160 | +$300 (+35%) |
| Lititz, PA | 16.4 mi | $1,000 | +$140 (+16%) |
| Camp Hill, PA | 33.4 mi | $1,050 | +$190 (+22%) |
| Hanover, PA | 38.1 mi | $950 | +$90 (+10%) |
| Cockeysville, MD | 40 mi | $1,430 | +$570 (+66%) |
| Wyomissing, PA | 41 mi | $1,290 | +$430 (+50%) |
| Reading, PA | 43.4 mi | $940 | +$80 (+9%) |
| Edgewood, MD | 43.8 mi | $1,300 | +$440 (+51%) |
| Reisterstown, MD | 43.9 mi | $1,370 | +$510 (+59%) |
Studio rent in Columbia — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Columbia?
As of July 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Columbia, Pennsylvania is $860 per month. This is +33% below the citywide median of $1,291.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Columbia?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $34,400 ($2,867/month gross), which works out to roughly $16.54/hour at a full-time job.
Is Columbia expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Columbia's studio median of $860 is +33% below the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 14th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Columbia rank for studio rent in Pennsylvania?
Among the 157 cities in Pennsylvania with studio data, Columbia ranks #32 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Columbia?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Red Lion ($840).