Cheap Apartments for Rent in the Downtown Columbia Neighborhood of Columbia, MD from $900 (29 Rentals)

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Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in the Downtown Columbia area of Columbia.

Your Guide to Co-Signers: The Risks, Rewards, and Everything in Between

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Roommate Matching: Finding the Right Fit and Avoiding Pitfalls

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Park View at Columbia
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments

Park View at Columbia

7070 Cradlerock WayColumbia, MD 21045
Senior Living
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Forest Ridge
1 to 3 Bedroom Apartments

Forest Ridge

5890 Stevens Forest RdColumbia, MD 21045

Cash or credit? Understanding the Importance of Credit Score in Real Estate and Renting

Discover how your credit score impacts your ability to lease or buy a home. Learn how credit scores are determined, how to check yours, and strategies to improve it for real estate success.

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Waverly Winds
1 to 4 Bedroom Apartments

Waverly Winds

10339 Twin Rivers RdColumbia, MD 21044
property at 6091 Majors Ln

6091 Majors Ln

ColumbiaMD21045
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The Bluffs at Hawthorn
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments

The Bluffs at Hawthorn

10401 Hickory Ridge RdColumbia, MD 21044
  • Utilities Included

The Art of the Rental Viewing: What to look for during a property tour

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Showing Results 1-29, Page 1 of 1

Downtown Columbia, Columbia, MD Local Guide

Cheapest Available Downtown Columbia Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in the Downtown Columbia area of Baltimore, MD is a 1 Bed unit found at Aspen at Lake Trail priced from $1,490. Autumn Crest has the second lowest priced unit, which is a 1 Bed apartment currently listed from $1,500. Here are the most affordable Downtown Columbia apartments for rent in Baltimore, MD:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
Aspen at Lake Trail1 BEDROOM JR1BR,1BA$1,490
Autumn Crest1 Bedroom1BR,1BA$1,500
Clarys CrossingCamden1BR,1BA$1,545
10X Columbia Town CenterA11BR,1BA$1,573
Cedar PlaceWalnut1BR,1BA$1,610
Harpers Forest1 Bedroom1BR,1BA$1,649
Columbia Choice ApartmentsS 1x11BR,1BA$1,650
The Brook At Columbia1 Bed 1 Bath1BR,1BA$1,699
Columbia Glade1 Bedroom 770SqFt1BR,1BA$1,720
Autumn Town CenterASPEN1BR,1BA$1,736

Best Value Apartments for Rent in Downtown Columbia, MD

As of December 01, 2025 the best value apartment in the Downtown Columbia area is the $1.53 price per square foot The Centennial Model at Dorsey Overlook in the in the Taylor Village neighborhood starting from $3,799. The second greatest value Downtown Columbia apartment is the 2BR 2BA (1060sf) Model at The Greens at Columbia Apartments starting at $2,016 with a $1.90 price per square foot in the Patuxent Chase neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for Downtown Columbia apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
Dorsey OverlookThe Centennial3BR,3BA$1.53
The Greens at Columbia Apartments2BR 2BA (1060sf)2BR,2BA$1.90
Cedar PlaceWalnut1BR,1BA$1.98
eaves Columbia Town CenterA41BR,1BA$2.20
Columbia Glade1 Bedroom 770SqFt1BR,1BA$2.25
10X Columbia Town CenterA11BR,1BA$2.16
The Brook At Columbia1 Bed 1 Bath1BR,1BA$2.35
Avalon Fairway Hills-MeadowsA1-7151BR,1BA$2.30
Autumn Crest1 Bedroom1BR,1BA$2.12
Clarys CrossingCamden1BR,1BA$2.22

Don't Settle: How to Negotiate Your Apartment Lease and Save Money

Discover the insider tips from an attorney and real estate agent on how to negotiate your next apartment lease. Find out what's on the table and what's not, so you can save money and get the best terms possible.

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Quick Rent Budget Calculator

How much rent can you afford?

The common "Rule of Thumb" is that rent should be no more than 30% of your income. How much is that? Enter your monthly income and click "Calculate My Budget" to find out.

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Pet Friendly Lifestyle
Downtown Columbia, Columbia, MD

Ranked #3

Among cities in Maryland for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities.

Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score

4.0
Pet Friendly

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Best Local Schools in
Downtown Columbia, Columbia, MD

School data provided by Great Schools

Lifestyle Ratings

ApartmentHomeLiving brings you comprehensive Lifestyle Ratings of rentals in cities across the United States and customized analysis for Southwest Baltimore, MD. LifeStyle Ratings are a useful tool for comparing and sorting apartments and neighborhoods when choosing your rental home. This takes in many factors including filtering automatically for the best outdoor access, luxury housing options, transit availability, pet-friendly communities, places to raise kids, and how walkable or bikeable each community and area is. Use Lifestyle Search in the site filter options on this page - and find your Perfect place!

Getting Around the Downtown Columbia Neighborhood in Columbia, MD

Walk Score®

73 / 100

Very Walkable

Most errands can be accomplished on foot

Bike Score®

65 / 100

Bikeable

Some bike infrastructure

Transit Score®

50 / 100

Good Transit

Many nearby public transportation options

What Are Walk Score®, Transit Score®, and Bike Score® Ratings?

  • Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address.
  • Transit Score® measures access to public transit.
  • Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Downtown Columbia Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in Downtown Columbia?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Downtown Columbia is under $1,736.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in Downtown Columbia?

The cheapest apartment in Downtown Columbia is Aspen at Lake Trail which is listed at $1,490, while the average apartment in Downtown Columbia costs $3,881.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in Downtown Columbia?

Student, low-income, and by-the-bed apartments are typically the cheapest rentals in most cities, though they require qualifying criteria to rent. There are 6 regular apartments in Downtown Columbia that we think qualify as ‘cheap apartments’ that do not have special requirements to apply to rent.

How do the prices of cheap apartments compare to the average apartment in Downtown Columbia?

Cheap apartments in Downtown Columbia have an average cost of $167 which is $3,714 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in Downtown Columbia.

Expert Rental Resources

Helpful Apartment Articles, How-To's and Tips

The rental experts at ApartmentHomeLiving.com provide you with top advice, tools, and tips for understanding the leasing process and finding the perfect rental. Here are a few helpful rental and leasing articles from our experts to guide you on your search.

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A Baltimore Local Expert’s Guide To 10 Budget-Friendly Neighborhoods to Rent

Written by: Sarah Bregel

There are few cities more eclectic and diverse than Baltimore, Maryland. I should know. I've lived in various parts of Baltimore for most of my life.

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Apartment Common Area Rules: What Renters Need to Know

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

Back in the day when I rented one of my first apartments, the property didn’t even have laundry in the building. Now, rental properties are often competing against each other to provide the best amenities.

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How to Negotiate Your Apartment Lease and Save Money

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

Everything is a negotiation in real estate! 

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The Rental Move-In Inspection Checklist: A Guide for Renters

Written by: Trey Huguley

The move-in inspection checklist is a crucial tool for both tenants and landlords. This checklist, provided by the team at ApartmentHomeLiving.com, helps document the condition of an apartment at the time of move-in.