Cheap Apartments for Rent in Columbus, OH from $300 (1,295 Rentals)

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Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in Columbus.

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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property at 1615 N 4th St

1615 N 4th St

ColumbusOH43201
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Columbus, OH Local Guide

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Written By:
Justin Habersaat
Editing Staff

Cheapest Neighborhoods for Apartments in Columbus, OH

Pricing Updated: 04/12/2025

Current apartment rentals in the Columbus, OH area range in price from $300 to $13,230 with an overall median price of $3,189. The three Columbus neighborhoods with the lowest median rent pricing are Downtown Johnstown at $825, South Hilltop at $381, and Valley View at $711. Here is today’s list of the top 10 neighborhoods with the lowest median pricing for Columbus Apartments for rent:

NeighborhoodMedian PriceMin PriceAvailable Units
Downtown Johnstown$825$8251
South Hilltop$975$38162
Valley View$1,180$71111
Forest Park West$1,200$65053
Briggsdale$1,275$44633
Leafy Dell$1,345$1,2454
North Hilltop$1,435$44650
Central Hilltop$1,450$80039
Oriole Heights$1,498$789110
Woodland Holt$1,498$789108

Cheapest Available Columbus Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in Columbus, OH is a 2 Beds unit found at Nazareth Towers-62 & Older in the Discovery District neighborhood priced from $300. Starling Yard in the Franklinton neighborhood has the second lowest priced unit, which is a 1 Bed apartment currently listed from $400. Here is today’s list of the most affordable Columbus apartments for rent:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
Nazareth Towers-62 & OlderStudio2BR,1BA$300
Starling Yard1 bdr1BR,1BA$400
Belmont ApartmentsStudent RoomStudio,1BA$425
Wheatland Crossing ITwo Bedroom2BR,1BA$446
Dunbury Greene2 Bedroom2BR,1BA$465
Cornerstone CrossingStudioStudio,1BA$639
Alpine Village1 X 21BR,1BA$675
Franklin Park ApartmentsNew-Year's-Sale! ** 1br/ 2br/ Studios ** Specia...1BR,1BA$699
Gardenview FlatsLimited Availability—Act Fast!Studio,1BA$700
Star King ApartmentsStudio A (Mid)Studio,1BA$715

Best Value Apartments for Rent in Columbus, OH

As of April 13, 2025 the best value apartment in the Columbus area is the $0.85 price per square foot 4BR/2.0BA Model at 414-416 E. Whittier St in the in the Downtown Columbus neighborhood starting from $2,800. The second greatest value Columbus apartment is the Ren 2 BR Townhome w/ Garage & UF Basement Model at Oak Bend Commons starting at $1,450 with a $0.83 price per square foot in the Preston Trails neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for Columbus apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
414-416 E. Whittier St4BR/2.0BA4BR,2BA$0.85
Oak Bend CommonsRen 2 BR Townhome w/ Garage & UF Basement2BR,2.5BA$0.83
Crosscreek Apartments and Townhomes2 bed2BR,1.5BA$0.46
Northern Place Townhomes2 BDRM2BR,1.5BA$0.77
Central Square ApartmentsBirch Townhome2BR,1.5BA$0.76
One Short NorthOne Bed1BR,1BA$0.67
Starling Yard2 bdr2BR,1BA$0.79
Dunbury Greene2 Bedroom2BR,1BA$0.54
Wheatland Crossing IOne Bedroom1BR,1BA$0.69
Nazareth Towers-62 & OlderStudioStudio ,1BA$0.67

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Columbus Overview

Columbus, the Ohio state capital, falls within the top 20 largest cities in the entire United States in terms of population. This dynamic town is full of Midwestern down-to-earth, friendly people, who often make locals feel welcomed and treated like family. Life in Columbus apartments also offer residents an engaged community full of fun alongside interesting places to eat, shop, and to enjoy the arts or a night on the town. In addition, Columbus is home to THE Ohio State University, which draws students from all over the country to this Midwest hub of energy.

Why live in Columbus, OH?

There's a lot to love about Columbus. It's got a thriving economy and great neighborhoods like the German Village, Merion Village, and the Arena District. From the artsy, hip culture of the Short North district, to the sports and entertainment vibe in the Arena District, there is a little something for everyone here. For college sports fans, Ohio State University serves up great football and basketball. Add in a low cost of living, and those looking for apartments in Columbus have found a true gem of a city.

Pet Friendly Lifestyle
Columbus, OH

Ranked #2

Among cities in Ohio for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities

Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score

3.5
Pet Friendly

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

Explore Columbus, OH Rentals by Map

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See the most popular apartments and homes in Columbus, OH

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Getting Around Columbus, OH

Walk Score®

59 / 100

Somewhat Walkable

Some errands can be accomplished on foot

Bike Score®

57 / 100

Bikeable

Some bike infrastructure

Transit Score®

34 / 100

Some Transit

A few nearby public transportation options

What Are Walk Score®, Transit Score®, and Bike Score® Ratings?

  • Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address.
  • Transit Score® measures access to public transit.
  • Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Columbus, OH Area Reviews

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

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 $715.

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 $3,189.

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 2,384 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 $519 which is $2,670 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in Columbus.

Expert Rental Resources

Helpful Apartment Articles, How-To's and Tips

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.

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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.

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Understanding Amenity Fees: Know Where You Might Be Able to Save Money

Written by: Amber Kanuckel

With the rising costs of housing, a lot of renters are asking this question: Is it possible to opt out of various amenities that your rental property offers so that you can avoid paying the fees.

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Renting Smart: Lease Basics Every Renter Needs

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

Often, in the excitement of finding a new place to live, there’s a rush to make it happen, and - too often - a new tenant signs a lease without reading it carefully.

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Battling the Butts: Your Guide to the Reality of Smoke-Free Renting

Written by: Andrea Lee Negroni, JD

While many apartment buildings are “no smoking” properties, it’s hard to know exactly how many. In 2017, the National Apartment Association reported more than half of rental properties had smoke free policies.