1221 Pickens St
ColumbiaSC29201
Homes for Rent in Columbia, SC (677 Rentals)
1600 Park Cir
ColumbiaSC29201
2714 Forest Dr
ColumbiaSC29204
1208 Bush River Rd, Unit A4
1208 Bush River Rd
ColumbiaSC29210
629 Kentucky St, Unit B
629 Kentucky St
ColumbiaSC29201
4600 Fort Jackson Blvd, Unit 118
4600 Fort Jackson Blvd
ColumbiaSC29209
3700 Bush River Rd, Unit K3
3700 Bush River Rd
ColumbiaSC29210
1100 Skyland Dr
ColumbiaSC29210
7602 Hunt Club Rd
ColumbiaSC29223
301 Glenn Ave
ColumbiaSC29203
Local Expert's Top 8: Affordable Columbia, SC Neighborhoods for Quality Living
Moving to Columbia, SC? Explore 8 affordable neighborhoods to rent that are known for strong schools, convenient shopping, and easy access to local natural highlights like Lake Murray.
162 Crestland Dr
ColumbiaSC29210
1520 Senate St, Unit 11C
1520 Senate St
ColumbiaSC29201
1315 Dover St
ColumbiaSC29201
108 Rabon Springs Rd
ColumbiaSC29223
903 Drake Grove Ln
ColumbiaSC29210
1085 Shop Rd, Unit 423
1085 Shop Rd
ColumbiaSC29201
900 Taylor St, Unit #212
900 Taylor St
ColumbiaSC29201
1605 Willowby St, Unit A.
1605 Willowby St
ColumbiaSC29223
1229 Clemson Rd
ColumbiaSC29229
220 Eascott Pl, Unit 200
220 Eascott Pl
ColumbiaSC29229
Neighborhood & Market Insights: How to Choose the Right Area to Rent
Master your search for the perfect apartment. Location is everything. Discover how to leverage community insights, public data, and personal visits to make a fully informed decision about where to rent.
286 Traditions Cir
ColumbiaSC29229
2462 Millwood Ave
ColumbiaSC29205
717 Laurens Street
ColumbiaSC29201
312 S Woodrow St
ColumbiaSC29205
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$1,620Studio Apartments Available Now
Furnished Studio-Columbia - West - Interstate 126
450 Gracern RdColumbia, SC 29210
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$1,499Studio Apartments Available Now
Furnished Studio-Columbia - West - Stoneridge Dr.
180 Stoneridge DrColumbia, SC 29210
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$2,099Studio Apartments Available Now
Furnished Studio-Columbia - Ft. Jackson
5430 Forest DrColumbia, SC 29206
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$1,1002 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
2455 Gervais St, Unit B
2455 Gervais StColumbia, SC 29204
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$1,0251 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
1004 Pine St, Unit A2
1004 Pine StColumbia, SC 29205
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$2,2002 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
2822 Lincoln St, Unit Apt A
2822 Lincoln StColumbia, SC 29201
The Art of the Rental Viewing: What to look for during a property tour
Touring a rental? This guide helps you know exactly what to look for, from safety features to hidden flaws, so you can confidently sign your lease or keep searching.
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$1,0251 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
1004 Pine St, Unit A1
1004 Pine StColumbia, SC 29205
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$1,1502 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
1102 Rumar St
1102 Rumar StColumbia, SC 29203
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$1,974
Total Monthly Price
3 Bedroom Apartments Available Jun 1, 2029Total Monthly Price
Base Rent
$1,974
Total Monthly Price
$1,974
1051 Southern Dr, Unit SI ID1356305P
1051 Southern DrColumbia, SC 29201
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$2,018
Total Monthly Price
4 Bedroom Apartments Available Jun 7Total Monthly Price
Base Rent
$2,018
Total Monthly Price
$2,018
1051 Southern Dr, Unit SI ID1356308P
1051 Southern DrColumbia, SC 29201
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$1,720
Total Monthly Price
2 Bedroom Apartments Available NowTotal Monthly Price
Base Rent
$1,720
Total Monthly Price
$1,720
1051 Southern Dr, Unit SI ID1356290P
1051 Southern DrColumbia, SC 29201
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$1,113
Total Monthly Price
1 Bedroom Apartments Available May 31, 2029Total Monthly Price
Base Rent
$1,113
Total Monthly Price
$1,113
1051 Southern Dr, Unit SI ID1356279P
1051 Southern DrColumbia, SC 29201
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$4,435
Total Monthly Price
3 Bedroom Apartments Available Nov 20Total Monthly Price
Base Rent
$4,435
Total Monthly Price
$4,435
425B6 Summit Terrace Ct, Unit SI ID1244342P
425B6 Summit Terrace CtColumbia, SC 29229
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$4,435
Total Monthly Price
3 Bedroom Apartments Available Nov 20Total Monthly Price
Base Rent
$4,435
Total Monthly Price
$4,435
29 Gatewood Way, Unit SI ID1244318P
29 Gatewood WayColumbia, SC 29229
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$1,0251 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
1004 Pine St, Unit A3
1004 Pine StColumbia, SC 29205
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$8502 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
2815 Howell Ct
2815 Howell CtColumbia, SC 29203
Smart Renter's Guide: Calculating Affordable Rent & Housing Costs
Wondering how to determine your rental budget? This comprehensive guide covers everything from the 30% rule to hidden fees and effective budgeting strategies.
6 Forestgrove Ct
ColumbiaSC29212
3023 Pine Belt Rd, Unit 16831-206
3023 Pine Belt Rd
ColumbiaSC29204
3414 Lanier Ave
ColumbiaSC29205
1000 Tundra Teal Ln
ColumbiaSC29210
1525 Atlantic Dr
ColumbiaSC29210
158 Palmetto Park Cir
ColumbiaSC29229
1063 Prescott Rd
ColumbiaSC29203
2701 Cliffside Dr
ColumbiaSC29209
501 Sutters Mill Rd
ColumbiaSC29229
2823 Gadsden St
ColumbiaSC29201
Columbia, SC Local Guide
How much does it cost to rent a home in Columbia?
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia 2 Bedroom Homes for Rent | $1,395 | $825 | $3,450 |
| Columbia 3 Bedroom Homes for Rent | $1,902 | $1,069 | $3,800 |
| Columbia 4 Bedroom Homes for Rent | $2,394 | $1,550 | $6,500 |
| Columbia 5 Bedroom Homes for Rent | $2,940 | $1,825 | $4,500 |
| Columbia 6 Bedroom Homes for Rent | $4,562 | $3,000 | $6,000 |
Note: Properties with the Total Monthly Price badge include all required fees. Hover over the badge for details.
Browse Top Homes for Rent in Columbia
Explore Columbia
Columbia, SC Local Guide
Written By:
Bobbi JacksonLocal Guide Expert
- Columbia Neighborhoods
- Nearby Cities
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A Seasoned Property Manager's Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Deposit Back
Learn the property manager's true secrets to a zero-deduction move-out. Use this step-by-step guide on documentation, cleaning, and lease-reading to reclaim your security deposit.
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18 Must-Ask Rental Tour Questions That Reveal the Truth about a Property
Tour smarter and choose with confidence. Get the essential 18 questions that reveal the truth about a rental property's maintenance, utilities, and safety.
Read ArticleReal Estate and Rental Term Glossary | ApartmentHomeLiving.com Renter University
From the letter A all the way to the letter Z, the Real Estate and Rental Term Glossary from the content team at ApartmentHomeLiving.com provides our visitors and shoppers with a little clarity and helpful guidance in navigating the real estate world through definitions and explainers for the top subjects and terms that someone may come across during the leasing, buying, or selling process.
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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.
Columbia Overview
Columbia, South Carolina is America’s best kept secret. The delightful alternative to living in urban density is a secret that residents of Columbia, South Carolina know. The pace and personality of this small town of just over 136,600 people is what you’d expect in a state capital this size — lively and lovely, friendly and fun, creative and, yes, cute. The beautiful traditional southern architecture is juxtaposed with one of the world’s most stunning modern city skylines. You may wonder how a city this size has high-rise buildings. It’s the state capital and the county seat. So, everything requiring offices happens here. For professional roles and administrative work, this is the southeastern sweet spot. Residents choosing Columbia rental homes enjoy abundant job opportunities, nightlife, and friendly neighborhoods, surrounded by the country’s lushest green forests and immense lakes, all a short trip from the beach.
What is the history of Columbia?
The story of Columbia, South Carolina is about the birth and rebirth of the nation. Columbia’s history is a microcosm of the evolution of American civilization as it has played out in so many pivotal changes throughout the generations. The area was first explored by Spaniard Hernando de Soto in 1540. As many as 20,000 Cherokee, Creek, and other tribespeople lived in the area through the following century. Columbia became the state capital in 1786, replacing Charleston. From the town’s role as a Civil War transportation hub and base for southern agencies to its place today as a critical regional economic and academic center, it’s quite a story. After two decades of strong growth, by the late 1860s, Columbia was the largest inland city in the Carolinas. Cotton was the town’s major cash crop. In 1865, during the war, the town was extensively burned. Industrial development took hold in the 1890s and the world’s first electrically powered textile mill began operating in Columbia.
How is the weather in Columbia?
For a mid-Atlantic coastal area, the weather in Columbia is relatively stable. Expect a lot of warm, clear days through the Columbia summers, and cool to moderately cold winter nights. In January, average high temperatures are a comfortable 58° and lows are around 36°. The area averages about 7 rain days for that month and sees some winter days in the 70°s. In July, the averages include a high of around 95°, a low of about a perfect 72°, and about 9 rainy days. Evenings are usually comfortable year-round. The area receives about 45 inches of rain per year, which brings welcome cool-downs in hot months. Snow is rare, even in the coldest periods. Temperatures don’t often drop below 23°F or exceed 98°F. So, there are palm trees growing around Columbia and rarely sighted but still real alligators in some local rivers and creeks. Humidity is often high in hot months. That’s what it is to be in a subtropical zone, as is Columbia. Hence the palm trees and gators.
How do I get around town?
Columbia, SC is an eastern transportation hub, so they’ve figured it all out for you. There are lots of metro transportation options in Columbia, SC. It’s a long-established eastern town, so there’s little undiscovered need in this regard. The COMET is the city’s public bus system. You are encouraged to spot one of the neon-painted buses and “Catch the COMET.” The buses run 7 days per week, other than Thanksgiving or Christmas. You can even track the COMET with the city’s app. Lyft and Uber are offered, and Kola Kruze provides a ridesharing alternative for students. Bike-sharing programs and car rentals are available. Columbia is walkable, and numerous must-see attractions are within walking distance of each other. The Columbia Metropolitan Airport is served by American, United, and Delta with nonstop flights to popular destinations.
What is the Columbia commute like?
Columbia is a small city with a thorough urban commuter transportation structure. The bulk of daily traffic in Columbia metro depends on city access via I77, I20, and I26, supported by alternative State Routes Hwy 321 and Hwy 378. The commute time for Columbia averages just 15 minutes. That’s under half of the national average. There can be rush-hour congestion, mostly around the 8 area college campuses. Columbia's public transportation system includes the COMET bus lines, which features the Soda Cap Connector, connecting to attractions for just $1. You can buy COMET bus passes online. There are plenty of parking garages and streetside parking spaces downtown. Several airports serve Columbia, including the Columbia Metropolitan Airport in West Columbia, with all the major airlines routing to it.
Why live in Columbia, SC?
Beautiful Columbia is the academic and economic engine for growth in South Carolina. Columbia is both the SC state capital and Richmond County seat. So, if your passion is in government service, welcome to paradise. Maybe it’s due to all the competence and bustling efforts to get important things done here, or maybe it’s just an effect of living under palm trees, but few places give a greater sense of a good and stable lifestyle than this energetic and productive little southeastern city. Perhaps it’s because there are no less than 8 colleges in the vicinity. The University of South Carolina, here in Columbia, is ranked #1 nationally by U.S. News & World Report for International Business studies. Columbia has led the state in traversing the eons of social, political, and economic development. Anyway, there’s something comforting about being in the academic, civic, and economic cradle of this great US region.
What Columbia landmarks should I see?
Historical Columbia, the seat of leadership, is the gateway from the Old South to the New Age. Among Columbia’s vast trove of historical monuments and buildings are the Modjeska Monteith Simkins House, Mann-Simons Site, South Carolina Statehouse, and the Robert Mills House, (circa 1823) a museum in a mansion surrounded by beautiful gardens. These are just a few. Other sites popular with visitors include the Revival building, framed by colorful gardens displaying monuments throughout. The Riverbanks Botanical Gardens must not be missed. Be sure to tour the city’s diverse classic and modern creative collections at the Columbia Museum of Art. The South Carolina State Museum, at the site of the world’s first electrically operated textile mill, offers a fascinating journey into a key phase of the region’s industrial, economic, and social development.
What is there to do around Columbia?
Columbia SC is the fun hub of the Carolinas. The award-winning EdVenture Children's Museum takes visitors through a massive venue for interactive exploration. In addition to all the indoor attractions mentioned above and many others, there are lots of outdoor things to do in and around Columbia. Stroll through the Riverbanks Garden, hang out at the Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park. Venture along the banks of the Congaree River and through the Congaree National Park. Spectacular Lake Murray is just minutes away from Columbia. You can’t run out of either exciting or relaxing options there. Take the short road trip (1 hr 50 min) to Charleston — the charm capital of the country. When you’re settled and ready for a mini-vacation, it’s just 7 hours to Washington, D.C. It’s well worth the trip. Gatlinburg, TN is just a few hours west, and, of course, Atlanta is only 3 hours away. There’s so much to see and do in any direction from Columbia, you can have a unique adventure daily, time permitting, of course.
Where is the best place to move in Columbia?
Pick your lifestyle and live it fully here at the heart of the modern American southeast. Near downtown, the Shandon historic neighborhood offers pretty restored homes on tree-lined streets and various housing types. It’s popular with professionals and families. Cayce is a popular option. It’s on the Congaree River just a few minutes from downtown Columbia. For a quiet family neighborhood, Forest Acres is one to explore. It offers good schools, abundant amenities, shopping, restaurants, and farmers' markets. The Lexington neighborhood, also near downtown, feels like its own small town, with smaller residential enclaves, a range of housing types, nearby employers, fun activity centers, and more. Another popular area near downtown is Arsenal Hill, which, like Shandon, offers a variety of options in Columbia rental homes, including modern apartments and condos as well as historic homes. It offers quick access to city attractions and features Finlay Park and other nice public green spaces. Irmo and Ballentine are highly sought adjacent neighborhoods between Columbia proper and Lake Murray. Chapin is on the lake and is a popular neighborhood. It has good schools and new housing developments underway.
Remember the 3 Rules of Real Estate:Location, Location, Location!
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Columbia, SC Area Reviews
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Kama • 2+ years in Columbia
December 15, 2025Great for young professionals and families. We love Segra Park, the Harbison walking trails, and Lake Murray.
Gwendolyn • 2+ years in Columbia
February 25, 2025I found your advertisement online. Please get in touch with me.
Frequently Asked Questions about Columbia
What type of rentals are currently available in Columbia?
There are currently 626 Apartments for Rent in Columbia, SC with pricing that ranges from $401 to $4,800. There are also 659 Single Family Homes for rent, Condos, and Townhome rentals currently available in Columbia ranging from $825 to $6,500.
What is the current price range for Rental Homes in Columbia?
Today's rental pricing for Homes for Rent, Condos and Townhomes in Columbia ranges from $825 to $6,500 with an average monthly rent of $2,258.
How much are larger Three and Four Bedroom Rentals in Columbia?
For those who are looking for larger living arrangements, Three Bedroom Apartments in Columbia range from $679 to $4,435, while Three Bedroom Homes, Condos, and Townhomes for rent range from $1,069 to $3,800. Four Bedroom Single-Family rentals are also available starting from $1,550 and Four Bedroom Apartments start at $510.
Expert Rental Resources
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.
Articles, How-To's, and Tips
Local Experts Top 8: Affordable Columbia, SC Neighborhoods for Quality Living
Written by: Kama Offenberger
I'm Kama, the ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Columbia, South Carolina.
Neighborhood and Market Insights: How to Choose the Right Area to Rent
Written by: Robin Stewart
Apartment-hunting can be a gargantuan task. Renters have a wish list of items—some luxuries, some necessities—but finding what you seek in the right place is perhaps the most important part of the journey.
A Seasoned Property Manager's Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Deposit Back
Written by: Lauren Harrington
I’m going to talk with you as a seasoned property manager and friend. So, let’s start with your security deposit. I want you to think about this guide as insider information. You deserve your deposit back.
Expert Solutions for Creating the Perfect Work-From-Home Apartment Layouts
Written by: Lauren Harrington
This article is based on first-hand experience managing apartment communities and helping renters adapt to their spaces after moving in.