Cheap Apartments for Rent with Specials in Columbus, OH from $300 (331 Rentals)

How Many Bedrooms?Done
Select your price rangeDone
to
Lifestyle Matching SearchDone
Learn more about Lifestyle Search
By AmenitiesDone
By Community TypeDone
Features and AvailabilityDone
Done

Rental Listings with Specials.

Cheap Apartments in Columbus.

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.

Read Article

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.

Read Article

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.

Read Article

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

Read Article

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.

Read Article
Showing Results 1-50, Page 1 of 7

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.

Read Article
Decorative image

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.

Read Article
Decorative image

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.

decorative image of people with a giant lease agreement

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

Explore Columbus, OH Rentals by Map

Decorative image of map

See the most popular apartments and homes in Columbus, OH

View Map
Columbus, OH Apartments Map
View Map
Columbus, OH Rental Homes Map

Columbus, OH Area Reviews

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

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 $733.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in Columbus?

The cheapest apartment in Columbus is Nazareth Towers-62 & Older which is listed at $300, while the average apartment in Columbus costs $1,479.

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 3,478 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 $427 which is $1,052 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

decorative image for Where to Rent in Columbus: Mapping Major Employers to Affordable Neighborhoods article

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.

decorative image for Welcome to Columbus: An Insider's Guide to Ohios Best-Kept Secret article

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.

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

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.

decorative image for The 10 Best Affordable Neighborhoods in Columbus, OH article

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

decorative image for Practical Tips for Renters: How to Identify a Great Rental and Avoid Red Flags article

Practical Tips for Renters: How to Identify a Great Rental and Avoid Red Flags

Written by: Robin Stewart

Renters want to find a great apartment, the right place for them, one that checks all the boxes of location, rental cost, amenities, safety, and more.

decorative image for First Apartment Regrets: Real Renters Share What They'd Do Differently article

First Apartment Regrets: Real Renters Share What They'd Do Differently

Written by: Robin Stewart

Hindsight is 20/20. Live and Learn. With age comes wisdom. We’re familiar with all those expressions, and all of them apply to lessons first-time renters learn.

decorative image for Renters Insurance 101: What It Is, What It Covers, and Why You Need It article

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.

decorative image for Apartment Occupancy Rates: Renter Attraction vs Renter Retention article

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.