Average Rent in Columbus, AL↑ Rents rising 7.5% YoY🔺 6th priciest in AL

Columbus, AL has rental prices ranging from $883/month to $1,781/month in 2025, depending on unit size. The typical 1-bedroom apartment rents for $937/month — 33% below the national average of $1,400/month. With a median household income of $57,762/year, spending $937/month on a 1-bedroom represents 19% of gross income — within the recommended 30% threshold.

How Columbus Compares

With an average 2-bedroom rent of $1,108/month, Columbus ranks #6 most expensive of the 58 cities tracked in Alabama — pricier than 76% of all US cities in our data.

The Columbus Rental Market

The Columbus, AL area has a population of about 326,136 and 43% of households renting rather than owning. That renter share runs above the US average of ~34%, pointing to a competitive rental market where vacancies clear quickly and rents are less negotiable.

Rent Trends

2-bedroom rents in Columbus, AL have risen by $77/month (7.5%) over the past year, from $1,031 to $1,108. This modest growth is consistent with broader inflationary trends seen across US rental markets.

Affordability

To afford a 1-bedroom apartment in Columbus, AL without exceeding the 30% housing cost guideline, a renter needs an annual income of approximately $37,480. The local median household income of $57,762 exceeds that threshold by $20,282, making Columbus relatively accessible compared to local wages.

Is Columbus, AL Affordable?

Income needed to rent or buy, price history, and how this city compares to nearby metros.

Rent or Buy in Columbus?

Break-even analysis and mortgage estimates based on local market data.

Living in Columbus

Cost of living, job market, crime rates, and moving cost estimates.