Cheap Apartments for Rent in Columbia, SC from $300 (146 Rentals)

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Columbia, SC Local Guide

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Written By:
Justin Habersaat
Editing Staff

Cheapest Neighborhoods for Apartments in Columbia, SC

Pricing Updated: 07/30/2025

Current apartment rentals in the Columbia, SC area range in price from $571 to $8,440 with an overall median price of $2,324. The three Columbia neighborhoods with the lowest median rent pricing are Lincolnshire at $800, Arthurtown at $599, and Byrneswood at $752. Here is today’s list of the top 10 neighborhoods with the lowest median pricing for Columbia Apartments for rent:

NeighborhoodMedian PriceMin PriceAvailable Units
Lincolnshire$1,174$80018
Arthurtown$1,317$59990
Byrneswood$1,358$75291
Cabb Island$1,358$75225
College Place$1,358$75224
Woodfield$1,369$79997
Harbison$1,374$57185
Lake Carolina$1,385$7898
Fort Jackson$1,405$799182
Whitehall$1,415$80552

Cheapest Available Columbia Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in Columbia, SC is a 1 Bed unit found at Acasa Prosper Fairways in the Skyland Estates neighborhood priced from $700. Rivers Edge at Carolina Stadium in the Arthurtown neighborhood has the second lowest priced unit, which is a 3 Beds apartment currently listed from $770. Here is today’s list of the most affordable Columbia apartments for rent:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
Acasa Prosper Fairways1X1_6781BR,1BA$700
Rivers Edge at Carolina StadiumThe Savannah- Standard Unfurnished - By The Bedspa3BR,2BA$770
Park SC1 bed 1 bath A21BR,1BA$784
Colonial Pointe ApartmentsStudioStudio,1BA$799
Dira East Apartments1BR 1BTH1BR,1BA$799
Autumn Ridge1 Bed 1 BathAutumn Ridge1BR,1BA$805
Cypress RunStudio | 1 BathStudio,1BA$820
Grove at St. AndrewsA11BR,1BA$824
Garden LakesOne Bed1BR,1BA$828
The Villages at Congaree Pointe1 Bed, 1 bath1BR,1BA$831

Best Value Apartments for Rent in Columbia, SC

As of July 30, 2025 the best value apartment in the Columbia area is the $0.57 price per square foot Townhomes Model at Pulaski Square Townhomes in the in the Eva P. Trezevant neighborhood starting from $999. The second greatest value Columbia apartment is the 3BR 2.5BTH Model at Dira East Apartments starting at $1,249 with a $0.93 price per square foot in the Woodfield neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for Columbia apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
Pulaski Square TownhomesTownhomes3BR,3BA$0.57
Dira East Apartments3BR 2.5BTH3BR,2.5BA$0.93
Richland Terrace ApartmentsThe St. Andrew3BR,2BA$0.87
Wyndham Pointe Apartments2 Bedroom2BR,2BA$0.90
Hunter's Green3 Beds, 2 baths3BR,2BA$1.00
Colonel Bluffs3 Bedroom3BR,2BA$0.89
Acasa River Crest3x2.5_11963BR,2.5BA$0.87
Pine Grove Apartments2 Bedroom 1.5 Bath2BR,2BA$0.93
Deerfield Run Apartments2 Beds, 2 baths2BR,2BA$0.93
3430 East Apartments2 Beds / 1 Bath2BR,1BA$0.99

Quick Rent Budget Calculator

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Columbia Overview

Columbia, South Carolina is a city filled with vibrant culture, enormous education, and profound history. It offers residents a warm escape from the Winter and easy ways to travel that range from solid public transit to three major interstate highways. Residents are able to enjoy dozens of festivals, concerts, and sporting events each year and can easily drive to nearby cities such as Savannah, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, or even Atlanta. Best of all, living in Columbia apartments is a very affordable experience, allowing residents to experience big city life far cheaper than they can in other metropolitan areas.

Why live in Columbia, SC?

Columbia has the best of both worlds, offering you the major benefits of living in a big city while still retaining the very affordable cost of living that much of the South is known for. There is a diverse array of cultural and entertainment options, and seven distinct colleges, making it an ideal place to complete or enhance your education. The three interstate highways make it easy to either travel around town or to make a quick trip to places like Charlotte, Savannah, or Atlanta. And with plenty of options for affodable apartments in Columbia, finding a great place to live is a cinch.

Pet Friendly Lifestyle
Columbia, SC

Ranked #3

Among cities in South Carolina for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities.

Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score

2.5
Pet Friendly

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Remember the 3 Rules of Real Estate:
Location, Location, Location!

Explore Columbia, SC Rentals by Map

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See the most popular apartments and homes in Columbia, SC

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Getting Around Columbia, SC

Walk Score®

45 / 100

Car-Dependent

Most errands require a car

Bike Score®

38 / 100

Somewhat Bikeable

Minimal bike infrastructure

Transit Score®

17 / 100

Minimal Transit

It may be possible to get on a bus

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.

Columbia, SC Area Reviews

  • Parks
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  • Local Vibes
  • Restaurants
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  • Traffic
  • Public Transportation
  • Outdoor Access
  • Cost of Living
  • Safety

Gwendolyn • 2+ years in Columbia

February 25, 2025

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Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Columbia Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in Columbia?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Columbia is under $831.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in Columbia?

The cheapest apartment in Columbia is Acasa Prosper Fairways which is listed at $700, while the average apartment in Columbia costs $2,324.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in 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 1,537 regular apartments in 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 Columbia?

Cheap apartments in Columbia have an average cost of $414 which is $1,910 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in 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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Cash or credit? Understanding the Importance of Credit Score in Real Estate and Renting

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

Throughout the day, think about all the times that you have to pay for something. So many of us reach automatically for a credit card or even our phone for a quick payment.

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Roommate Matching: Finding the Right Fit and Avoiding Pitfalls

Written by: Cheryl Bowman

A fantastic way to save money and enjoy a built-in community is to share an apartment. However, a bad roommate situation can turn your dream rental into a nightmare.

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

Written by: Marie Brown

You’ve scrolled through countless listings, walked through a blur of rentals, and finally found what feels like the one. The pictures? Fantastic. The neighborhood seems just right.

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Know Your Budget: Calculating What You Can Realistically Afford When Renting

Written by: Lauren Harrington

Renting an apartment or house isn’t just about looking through online ads, choosing a few apartments or homes you want to tour, filling out an application, and putting down a deposit. Those things are all necessary and important.