How much does it cost to rent in Columbia, SC?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Columbia, SC is $1,478. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Columbia cheaper than other South Carolina cities?

Columbia is among the more affordable cities in South Carolina, ranking #53 out of 67 cities at $1,478/mo.

When was Columbia rent data last updated?

Columbia rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · SC

Columbia

Name: Average Rent Prices in Columbia, SC
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 139,643·53rd most expensive in South Carolina·Rental market data updated monthly for Columbia, SC

Median rent (all units)

$1,478/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.6%

Month-over-Month

+1.2%

vs US Median

-$487

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Columbia · $1,478

More affordable than 77% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

55/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 3% below what Columbia's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,478/mo

Expected by trend

$1,519/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Columbia's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,179

1 BR

$1,302

2 BR

$1,441

3 BR

$1,839

4 BR+

$2,209

Research median

$1,441/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$17,736/yr

At $1,478/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.6% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.6% YoY, +1.2% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Columbia, SC is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 45.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

139,643

Median income

$55,529

Median age

28.6

Renters

54.5%

Age distribution

17%

43%

20.2%

Under 1817%

18–3443%

35–5420.2%

55–648.2%

65+11.5%

Gender

49.2%

50.8%

Male49.2%

Female50.8%

Race & ethnicity

46.9%

40.6%

White46.9%

Black40.6%

Hispanic6.2%

Asian3.3%

Other3%

Education (25+)

19.7%

25.6%

45.9%

No HS diploma8.8%

HS diploma19.7%

Some college25.6%

Bachelor's+45.9%

Housing tenure

45.5%

54.5%

Owner45.5%

Renter54.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Columbia, SC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,056 → $1,478

up 40.0%

Income

$48,791 → $55,529

up 13.8%

Population

137,276 → 139,643

up 1.7%

Renter share

53.9% → 54.5%

+0.6 pts

Bachelor's+

44.7% → 45.9%

+1.2 pts

Compared with 2021, rent in Columbia, SC has climbed by $422 per month, settling near $1,478 after starting the period at $1,056. On the earnings side, the typical household in Columbia, SC now reports about $55,529, up from $48,791 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 26.2 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 137,276 to 139,643 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.7% change. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Columbia, SC reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Columbia

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View Columbia rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Columbia on your salary?

At $1,478/mo, how Columbia rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $83,142/yr · Rent = 21.3% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $59,030/yr · Rent = 30% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $67,998/yr · Rent = 26.1% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $121,537/yr · Rent = 14.6% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $155,294/yr · Rent = 11.4% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $55,273/yr · Rent = 32.1% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $49,905/yr · Rent = 35.5% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $61,512/yr · Rent = 28.8% income

affordable

By apartment size

Columbia rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Columbia. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Columbia

About renting in Columbia, SC

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Columbia is $1,478/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,179/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,441/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,302/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,839/mo.

At 32% of local median household income ($55,529/yr), Columbia ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Columbia an affordable city for renters?

Columbia is considered moderate for renters. At $1,478/mo, rent takes approximately 32% of the local median household income ($55,529/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Columbia slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Columbia?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $59,000/year (~$28/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,478/mo in Columbia. The local median household income is $55,529/yr, meaning the typical Columbia household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Columbia?

Rent in Columbia has increased 2.6% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Columbia neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Columbia are 29210 ($1,161/mo), 29204 ($1,286/mo), and 29203 ($1,319/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Columbia is $1,478/mo.

How does Columbia rent compare to other cities in South Carolina?

Columbia is one of the more affordable cities in South Carolina for rent, ranking #53 out of 67 tracked cities at $1,478/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Columbia?

Forest Acres is nearby and more affordable at $1,193/mo, which is $285 less than Columbia.

What percentage of Columbia residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 54.5% of Columbia households are renters, while 45.5% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Columbia has a strong rental market.

How does Columbia rent compare to the national average?

Columbia's median rent of $1,478/mo is $487 (25%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within South Carolina, it ranks #53 out of 67 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

32%

MODERATE

At $1,478/mo, rent takes ~32% of Columbia's median household income ($55,529/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Columbia 32%Benchmark 30%

State income tax3–6.2%

Run the Columbia affordability calculator →

Nearby cities