Cheap 3 Bedroom Apartments for Rent in Columbus, OH from $530 (173 Rentals)

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Where to Rent in Columbus: Mapping Major Employers to Affordable Neighborhoods

Find your next budget-friendly apartment in Columbus, OH. Discover neighborhoods like Clintonville and Near East Side, offering short commutes and a great renter lifestyle near major job centers.

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Rent According to Income: A Look at Income-Restricted Rentals

Find income-restricted rentals and housing subsidies. Explore government programs designed to help low-income families secure stable, affordable housing.

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Welcome to Columbus: An Insider's Guide to Ohio's Best-Kept Secret

Discover Columbus, OH, a city of attractive urban vitality and affordable living. Get the insider scoop on nightlife, arts, parks, and low rental prices from a local expert.

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Columbus's Best Affordable Neighborhoods

Learn about Columbus and the best places to live with original content written by our Columbus, OH Local Expert Kim Mooneyham

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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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Columbus, OH Local Guide

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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Real 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.

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

Explore Columbus, OH Rentals by Map

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Columbus, OH Area Reviews

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Kim

March 15, 2026

Great place to attend college and find a job afterward.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Columbus Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in Columbus?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Columbus is under $739.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in Columbus?

The cheapest apartment in Columbus is Starling Yard which is listed at $530, while the average apartment in Columbus costs $2,940.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in Columbus?

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 3,066 regular apartments in Columbus 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 Columbus?

Cheap apartments in Columbus have an average cost of $392 which is $2,548 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in Columbus.

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.

Helpful Local Expert Guides

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Where to Rent in Columbus: Mapping Major Employers to Affordable Neighborhoods

Written by: Kim Mooneyham

Ask Columbus workers where they live, and you’ll hear the same neighborhood names: University District, Clintonville, Near East Side, North Columbus, and West Columbus.

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Welcome to Columbus: An Insider's Guide to Ohios Best-Kept Secret

Written by: Kim Mooneyham

Visitors to Columbus, OH, won't admit it at first, but they secretly expect this Midwestern capital to resemble a sprawling version of Mayberry from the old Andy Griffith show. I'm serious.

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The Ultimate Local Expert's Guide To Top Columbus, OH Neighborhoods for College and University Student Renters

Written by: Kim Mooneyham

Columbus, OH, artfully blends a laid-back Midwest personality with the excitement of urban living and the spirited atmosphere of student life.

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The 10 Best Affordable Neighborhoods in Columbus, OH

Written by: Kim Mooneyham

Although Columbus, Ohio, has a reputation for being a rowdy college town, it's large enough to offer numerous neighborhoods far away from frat houses and street parties after football games.

Articles, How-To's, and Tips

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Pet-Friendly Renting: Everything You Need to Know Before You Move

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

For so many of us, pets are the best companions and a big part of our lives. For this reason, a pet-friendly house or apartment is often a very important - and nonnegotiable - part of a move.