149 Kensington Rd
ColumbiaSC29203
Homes for Rent in Columbia, SC (714 Rentals)
1208 Bush River Rd, Unit A4
1208 Bush River Rd
ColumbiaSC29210
629 Kentucky St, Unit B
629 Kentucky St
ColumbiaSC29201
1541 Kathleen Dr
ColumbiaSC29210
320 Cambout St
ColumbiaSC29210
2220 Rolling Hills Rd
ColumbiaSC29210
1825 Saint Julian Pl, Unit 5E
1825 Saint Julian Pl
ColumbiaSC29204
3602 Rose Dr
ColumbiaSC29205
7602 Hunt Club Rd
ColumbiaSC29223
3224 Bronx Rd
ColumbiaSC29204
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.
304 Curvewood Rd
ColumbiaSC29229
1007 Chevis St
ColumbiaSC29205
113 Arsenal Academy Pl
ColumbiaSC29201
900 Taylor St, Unit #212
900 Taylor St
ColumbiaSC29201
903 Drake Grove Ln
ColumbiaSC29210
832 Shelter Cove Ct
ColumbiaSC29212
200 Big Leaf Cir
ColumbiaSC29229
1605 Willowby St, Unit A.
1605 Willowby St
ColumbiaSC29223
1221 Pickens St
ColumbiaSC29201
220 Eascott Pl, Unit 200
220 Eascott Pl
ColumbiaSC29229
Renters Insurance 101: What It Is, What It Covers, and Why You Need It
From theft to fire to water damage, the unexpected can happen to any renter. Discover why renters insurance is one of the smartest and most affordable investments you can make as a tenant.
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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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$1,499Studio Apartments Available Now
Furnished Studio-Columbia - Ft. Jackson
5430 Forest DrColumbia, SC 29206
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$1,1001 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
25XX Youman St, Unit 2509
25XX Youman StColumbia, SC 29204
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$1,1001 Bedroom Apartments Available Sep 1
25XX Youman St, Unit 2515
25XX Youman StColumbia, SC 29204
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$1,1001 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
25XX Youman St, Unit 2513
25XX Youman StColumbia, SC 29204
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$1,3002 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
402 Florida St, Unit A
402 Florida StColumbia, SC 29201
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$4,4403 Bedroom Apartments Available Nov 20
425B6 Summit Terrace Ct, Unit SI ID1244342P
425B6 Summit Terrace CtColumbia, SC 29229
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$1,3002 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
5408 Mauldin Ave, Unit A
5408 Mauldin AveColumbia, SC 29203
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$2,5003 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
1004 Pine St, Unit A3
1004 Pine StColumbia, SC 29205
How I Find the Perfect Rental for My Clients: A Real Estate Pro's Guide
Finding the right apartment starts with three things: location, cost, and amenities. Get the insider perspective from a real estate professional on how to nail all three.
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$2,5003 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
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$1,1002 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
2451 Gervais St, Unit A
2451 Gervais StColumbia, SC 29204
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$2,5003 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
1004 Pine St, Unit A1
1004 Pine StColumbia, SC 29205
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$8502 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
2815 Howell Ct
2815 Howell CtColumbia, SC 29203
201 Clearmeadow Dr
ColumbiaSC29229
22 Guernsey Dr
ColumbiaSC29203
22 Guernsey Dr
ColumbiaSC29203
219 S Holly St
ColumbiaSC29205
2091 Lake Carolina Dr
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.
608 Muller Ave
ColumbiaSC29203
2176 Elmridge Rd
ColumbiaSC29209
117 Westbridge Rd
ColumbiaSC29223
1013 Pinelane Rd
ColumbiaSC29223
544 Blue Duck Ln
ColumbiaSC29210
1834 Ashby Rd
ColumbiaSC29204
104 Durango Ave
ColumbiaSC29203
13 Coral Ct
ColumbiaSC29229
738 Duck Creek Ln
ColumbiaSC29210
336 Hamilton Dr
ColumbiaSC29203
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.
Showing Results 1-50, Page 1 of 15
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 | $1,402 | $795 | $3,450 |
| Columbia 3 Bedroom Homes for Rent | $1,950 | $800 | $10,000+ |
| Columbia 4 Bedroom Homes for Rent | $2,361 | $750 | $5,995 |
| Columbia 5 Bedroom Homes for Rent | $2,954 | $1,825 | $4,500 |
| Columbia 6 Bedroom Homes for Rent | $3,250 | $2,500 | $4,000 |
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
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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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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.
Pet Friendly LifestyleColumbia, SC
Ranked #3
Among cities in South Carolina for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities.
Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score
2.5Pet Friendly
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 624 Apartments for Rent in Columbia, SC with pricing that ranges from $401 to $5,418. There are also 717 Single Family Homes for rent, Condos, and Townhome rentals currently available in Columbia ranging from $700 to $15,500.
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 $700 to $15,500 with an average monthly rent of $2,033.
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 $699 to $4,440, while Three Bedroom Homes, Condos, and Townhomes for rent range from $800 to $15,500. Four Bedroom Single-Family rentals are also available starting from $750 and Four Bedroom Apartments start at $499.
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 Expert's 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.
Renters Insurance 101: What It Is, What It Covers, and Why You Need It
Written by: Robin Stewart
Insurance seems to be a part of life. In some states, having insurance is the law, as is the case for automobile insurance. Renters are no exception.
Apartment Occupancy Rates: Renter Attraction vs Renter Retention
Written by: Robin Stewart
There’s a tenet in marketing about client or customer attraction and retention. Studies and data have consistently shown it costs less to keep a current customer than to attract a new one.
How I Find the Perfect Rental for My Clients: A Real Estate Pro's Guide
Written by: Robin Stewart
Evaluating rental properties for clients draws many parallels to house-hunting. Whether an apartment, loft, townhouse, or other rental, finding the right place means finding “home” for your client.