Cheap Short Term Lease Apartments for Rent in Columbus, OH from $300 (183 Rentals)

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Short Term Rental Options.

Cheap Apartments in Columbus.

Brick Streets, Buckeyes, and a Brand New Apartment: Your Complete Columbus Moving Guide

From setting up utilities and understanding water billing to navigating Ohio BMV requirements and avoiding moving day headaches, our Columbus local expert covers everything new residents need to know.

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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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A Local’s Guide to Great Short-Term Rental Neighborhoods in Columbus, Ohio

Columbus has great short-term rental options, but the right neighborhood depends entirely on why you're here. Our local expert covers the honest trade-offs in four of the city's most popular neighborhoods for places with short term leases.

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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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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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Navigating the Rental Market: Tips for First-Time Renters

Entering the rental market? Learn these simple tips and strategies to avoid common pitfalls and make confident choices. Rent with peace of mind.

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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 $699.

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 $1,461.

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 2,941 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 $454 which is $1,007 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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Brick Streets, Buckeyes, and a Brand New Apartment: Your Complete Columbus Moving Guide

Written by: Kim Mooneyham

Hello from the Buckeye State! I'm Kim, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Columbus, Ohio, and I've put together this guide to help make your relocation as easy and stress-free as possible.

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A Local’s Guide to Great Short-Term Rental Neighborhoods in Columbus, Ohio

Written by: Kim Mooneyham

Hi, I'm Kim, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Columbus, Ohio. I'm part of an extended team at ApartmentHomeLiving.

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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.

Articles, How-To's, and Tips

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How Commercial-to-Residential Property Conversions Help the Housing Crisis

Written by: Robin Stewart

Many housing markets throughout America share a common complaint: a lack of affordable rental properties.

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Exploring Rental Options: Apartments, Townhomes, and Lofts - Oh My!

Written by: Robin Stewart

Where do you see yourself? When you think of home, sweet home, are you in a 3/2 apartment? Dreaming of a tall townhome? Maybe an industrial loft heavy on cool vibes is on your visioning board.

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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.

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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.