1-Bedroom Apartment Rent in Columbia, TN
Median asking rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Columbia, Tennessee as of October 2026. That's +18% lower than the citywide median of $1,584 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 Tennessee
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greeneville | $424 |
| 2 | Crossville | $488 |
| 3 | Morristown | $625 |
| 4 | Brownsville | $690 |
| 5 | Dayton | $690 |
| 6 | Lawrenceburg | $720 |
| 7 | Dyersburg | $740 |
| 8 | Cookeville | $790 |
| 9 | Elizabethton | $810 |
| 10 | Jefferson City | $810 |
| 11 | Manchester | $810 |
| 12 | Kingsport | $813 |
| 13 | Bristol | $820 |
| 14 | Tullahoma | $820 |
| 15 | Athens | $840 |
Most expensive cities for a 1-bedroom in Tennessee
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Juliet | $2,100 |
| 2 | Arlington | $2,048 |
| 3 | Spring Hill | $1,890 |
| 4 | La Vergne | $1,890 |
| 5 | Farragut | $1,890 |
| 6 | Thompsons Station | $1,837 |
| 7 | Nashville | $1,785 |
| 8 | Germantown | $1,720 |
| 9 | Hendersonville | $1,710 |
| 10 | Lakeland | $1,690 |
| 11 | Franklin | $1,689 |
| 12 | Ooltewah | $1,680 |
| 13 | Brentwood | $1,624 |
| 14 | Bartlett | $1,615 |
| 15 | Collierville | $1,600 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Hill, TN | 10.6 mi | $1,890 | +$590 (+45%) |
| Thompsons Station, TN | 14.2 mi | $1,837 | +$537 (+41%) |
| Franklin, TN | 22.8 mi | $1,689 | +$389 (+30%) |
| Brentwood, TN | 30.3 mi | $1,624 | +$324 (+25%) |
| Lawrenceburg, TN | 36.8 mi | $720 | $-580 (-45%) |
| Nashville, TN | 40.2 mi | $1,785 | +$485 (+37%) |
| Smyrna, TN | 40.8 mi | $1,510 | +$210 (+16%) |
| La Vergne, TN | 41.9 mi | $1,890 | +$590 (+45%) |
| Dickson, TN | 42.4 mi | $1,300 | — |
| Ashland City, TN | 45 mi | $1,390 | +$90 (+7%) |
| Murfreesboro, TN | 45.7 mi | $1,560 | +$260 (+20%) |
| Mount Juliet, TN | 53.2 mi | $2,100 | +$800 (+62%) |
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, Tennessee is $1,300 per month. This is +18% below the citywide median of $1,584.
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 $52,000 ($4,333/month gross), which works out to roughly $25.00/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 $1,300 is +7% below the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395. It ranks in the 43th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Columbia rank for 1-bedroom rent in Tennessee?
Among the 66 cities in Tennessee with 1-bedroom data, Columbia ranks #34 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper 1-bedroom options near Columbia?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper 1-bedroom rents include Lawrenceburg ($720).