1-Bedroom Apartment Rent in Columbia, SC
Median asking rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Columbia, South Carolina as of October 2026. That's +13% lower than the citywide median of $1,500 and +7% 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 South Carolina
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camden | $750 |
| 2 | Gaffney | $750 |
| 3 | Greenwood | $785 |
| 4 | Anderson | $818 |
| 5 | Dalzell | $880 |
| 6 | Seneca | $880 |
| 7 | Orangeburg | $890 |
| 8 | Florence | $913 |
| 9 | Lancaster | $940 |
| 10 | North Augusta | $940 |
| 11 | Central | $970 |
| 12 | Pendleton | $970 |
| 13 | Piedmont | $970 |
| 14 | Sumter | $977 |
| 15 | Fountain Inn | $980 |
Most expensive cities for a 1-bedroom in South Carolina
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Pleasant | $2,265 |
| 2 | Bluffton | $2,085 |
| 3 | Charleston | $1,919 |
| 4 | Hilton Head Island | $1,770 |
| 5 | Fort Mill | $1,677 |
| 6 | Ladson | $1,640 |
| 7 | Chapin | $1,620 |
| 8 | Summerville | $1,577 |
| 9 | Beaufort | $1,573 |
| 10 | Irmo | $1,560 |
| 11 | Goose Creek | $1,550 |
| 12 | Hanahan | $1,540 |
| 13 | Clover | $1,540 |
| 14 | Simpsonville | $1,505 |
| 15 | North Charleston | $1,488 |
Nearby cities — 1-bedroom rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper 1-bedroom rents than Columbia.
| City | Distance | 1-Bedroom rent | vs Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cayce, SC | 6.7 mi | $1,250 | $-52 (-4%) |
| West Columbia, SC | 6.8 mi | $1,050 | $-252 (-19%) |
| Blythewood, SC | 11.2 mi | $1,280 | $-22 (-2%) |
| Irmo, SC | 15.3 mi | $1,560 | +$258 (+20%) |
| Elgin, SC | 17.2 mi | $1,190 | $-112 (-9%) |
| Lexington, SC | 18.2 mi | $1,180 | $-122 (-9%) |
| Lugoff, SC | 22.9 mi | $1,000 | $-302 (-23%) |
| Chapin, SC | 23.7 mi | $1,620 | +$318 (+24%) |
| Camden, SC | 35.5 mi | $750 | $-552 (-42%) |
| Orangeburg, SC | 37 mi | $890 | $-412 (-32%) |
| Dalzell, SC | 39.3 mi | $880 | $-422 (-32%) |
| Sumter, SC | 45.3 mi | $977 | $-325 (-25%) |
1-Bedroom rent in Columbia — common questions
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Columbia?
As of October 2026, the median 1-bedroom apartment rent in Columbia, South Carolina is $1,302 per month. This is +13% below the citywide median of $1,500.
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 $52,080 ($4,340/month gross), which works out to roughly $25.04/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 $1,302 is +7% below the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395. It ranks in the 44th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Columbia rank for 1-bedroom rent in South Carolina?
Among the 62 cities in South Carolina with 1-bedroom data, Columbia ranks #37 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper 1-bedroom options near Columbia?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper 1-bedroom rents include Cayce ($1,250), West Columbia ($1,050), Blythewood ($1,280).