Studio Apartment Rent in Columbia, TN
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Columbia, Tennessee as of October 2026. That's +20% lower than the citywide median of $1,584 and +2% 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 Tennessee
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morristown | $319 |
| 2 | Crossville | $328 |
| 3 | Greeneville | $414 |
| 4 | Sevierville | $545 |
| 5 | Athens | $680 |
| 6 | Brownsville | $680 |
| 7 | Dayton | $680 |
| 8 | Lawrenceburg | $710 |
| 9 | Dyersburg | $720 |
| 10 | Kingsport | $737 |
| 11 | Bristol | $740 |
| 12 | Cookeville | $760 |
| 13 | Tullahoma | $760 |
| 14 | Elizabethton | $800 |
| 15 | Jefferson City | $810 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in Tennessee
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Juliet | $2,030 |
| 2 | Farragut | $1,880 |
| 3 | Spring Hill | $1,840 |
| 4 | La Vergne | $1,820 |
| 5 | Thompsons Station | $1,769 |
| 6 | Nashville | $1,718 |
| 7 | Hendersonville | $1,640 |
| 8 | Franklin | $1,627 |
| 9 | Ooltewah | $1,610 |
| 10 | Germantown | $1,570 |
| 11 | Brentwood | $1,568 |
| 12 | Lakeland | $1,550 |
| 13 | Goodlettsville | $1,520 |
| 14 | White House | $1,510 |
| 15 | Murfreesboro | $1,505 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 1 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Columbia.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Hill, TN | 10.6 mi | $1,840 | +$570 (+45%) |
| Thompsons Station, TN | 14.2 mi | $1,769 | +$499 (+39%) |
| Franklin, TN | 22.8 mi | $1,627 | +$357 (+28%) |
| Brentwood, TN | 30.3 mi | $1,568 | +$298 (+23%) |
| Lawrenceburg, TN | 36.8 mi | $710 | $-560 (-44%) |
| Nashville, TN | 40.2 mi | $1,718 | +$448 (+35%) |
| Smyrna, TN | 40.8 mi | $1,450 | +$180 (+14%) |
| La Vergne, TN | 41.9 mi | $1,820 | +$550 (+43%) |
| Dickson, TN | 42.4 mi | $1,270 | — |
| Ashland City, TN | 45 mi | $1,330 | +$60 (+5%) |
| Murfreesboro, TN | 45.7 mi | $1,505 | +$235 (+19%) |
| Mount Juliet, TN | 53.2 mi | $2,030 | +$760 (+60%) |
Studio rent in Columbia — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Columbia?
As of October 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Columbia, Tennessee is $1,270 per month. This is +20% below the citywide median of $1,584.
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 $50,800 ($4,233/month gross), which works out to roughly $24.42/hour at a full-time job.
Is Columbia expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Columbia's studio median of $1,270 is +2% below the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 48th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Columbia rank for studio rent in Tennessee?
Among the 64 cities in Tennessee with studio data, Columbia ranks #35 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Columbia?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Lawrenceburg ($710).