Columbia, SC: 2-bedroom payment standards across 60 ZIP codes

HUD's FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rents for Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area range from $1,020 to $1,840 for a 2-bedroom. The 90th-percentile ZIP code runs 1.29× the 10th — a gap of $343 a month — which ranks 169th widest of the 247 HUD metro areas we compare.

ZIP-level standards are optional here. Columbia, SC is not one of HUD's 65 designated Small Area FMR areas, so a housing authority may set one payment standard for the whole area, or adopt ZIP-level exception standards of up to 110% of a ZIP's published SAFMR. Where a single area-wide standard is used, the 9 ZIP codes below marked "above 110%" sit above the highest ceiling that basic policy reaches. Confirm what applies with the PHA that issued the voucher.

$1,320

median 2-bedroom SAFMR across the area's 60 ZIP codes. Where a housing authority sets a single metro-wide standard, it could reach $1,452 at 110%.

$343

monthly gap between the 90th- and 10th-percentile ZIP code ($1,170 to $1,513).

15.0%

of the area's ZIP codes (9 of 60) sit above $1,452 — 110% of the area median.

Highest-rent ZIP codes in Columbia, SC

2 BR Small Area FMR area median across all 60 ZIPs

Every ZIP code, ranked

The payment-standard column is HUD's published 90–110% band for that ZIP code — the range a housing authority may adopt without HUD approval. Your PHA sets the exact figure. The final column compares each ZIP to the area median; ZIP codes marked above 110% exceed 110% of that median — where a housing authority sets a single area-wide standard, those sit above the highest ceiling basic policy reaches.

Filter by ZIP code

Showing 60 of 60 ZIP codes

#	ZIP code	2 BR SAFMR ▾	Payment standard (90–110%)	vs area median
1	29177	$1,840	$1,656–$2,024	above 110%
2	29229	$1,770	$1,593–$1,947	above 110%
3	29063	$1,730	$1,557–$1,903	above 110%
4	29201	$1,720	$1,548–$1,892	above 110%
5	29208	$1,720	$1,548–$1,892	above 110%
6	29225	$1,720	$1,548–$1,892	above 110%
7	29206	$1,490	$1,341–$1,639	above 110%
8	29061	$1,460	$1,314–$1,606	above 110%
9	29212	$1,460	$1,314–$1,606	above 110%
10	29033	$1,430	$1,287–$1,573	108%
11	29072	$1,430	$1,287–$1,573	108%
12	29016	$1,410	$1,269–$1,551	107%
13	29209	$1,390	$1,251–$1,529	105%
14	29223	$1,390	$1,251–$1,529	105%
15	29210	$1,360	$1,224–$1,496	103%
16	29205	$1,340	$1,206–$1,474	102%
17	29207	$1,330	$1,197–$1,463	101%
18	29002	$1,320	$1,188–$1,452	100%
19	29202	$1,320	$1,188–$1,452	100%
20	29211	$1,320	$1,188–$1,452	100%
21	29215	$1,320	$1,188–$1,452	100%
22	29216	$1,320	$1,188–$1,452	100%
23	29217	$1,320	$1,188–$1,452	100%
24	29218	$1,320	$1,188–$1,452	100%
25	29220	$1,320	$1,188–$1,452	100%
26	29221	$1,320	$1,188–$1,452	100%
27	29222	$1,320	$1,188–$1,452	100%
28	29224	$1,320	$1,188–$1,452	100%
29	29226	$1,320	$1,188–$1,452	100%
30	29227	$1,320	$1,188–$1,452	100%
31	29230	$1,320	$1,188–$1,452	100%
32	29240	$1,320	$1,188–$1,452	100%
33	29250	$1,320	$1,188–$1,452	100%
34	29260	$1,320	$1,188–$1,452	100%
35	29290	$1,320	$1,188–$1,452	100%
36	29214	$1,270	$1,143–$1,397	96%
37	29203	$1,250	$1,125–$1,375	95%
38	29071	$1,220	$1,098–$1,342	92%
39	29169	$1,220	$1,098–$1,342	92%
40	29171	$1,220	$1,098–$1,342	92%
41	29014	$1,170	$1,053–$1,287	89%
42	29015	$1,170	$1,053–$1,287	89%
43	29044	$1,170	$1,053–$1,287	89%
44	29052	$1,170	$1,053–$1,287	89%
45	29053	$1,170	$1,053–$1,287	89%
46	29054	$1,170	$1,053–$1,287	89%
47	29055	$1,170	$1,053–$1,287	89%
48	29065	$1,170	$1,053–$1,287	89%
49	29073	$1,170	$1,053–$1,287	89%
50	29123	$1,170	$1,053–$1,287	89%
51	29166	$1,170	$1,053–$1,287	89%
52	29170	$1,170	$1,053–$1,287	89%
53	29172	$1,170	$1,053–$1,287	89%
54	29180	$1,170	$1,053–$1,287	89%
55	29204	$1,170	$1,053–$1,287	89%
56	29105	$1,110	$999–$1,221	84%
57	29006	$1,020	$918–$1,122	77%
58	29129	$1,020	$918–$1,122	77%
59	29824	$1,020	$918–$1,122	77%
60	29832	$1,020	$918–$1,122	77%

Heads up: The figure above is the HUD Fair Market Rent. Your local Public Housing Authority (PHA) sets the actual payment standard — usually between 90% and 110% of it — so confirm your exact amount with the PHA that issued the voucher.

How Columbia, SC compares

Its internal spread of 1.29× (p90 ÷ p10) ranks 169 of 247 HUD metro FMR areas, against a median of 1.37× and a national high of 1.77×. On the steadier p75 ÷ p25 measure it is 1.15×. See the full ranking and how it was measured →

A note on what this does not mean: a higher payment standard does not increase the assistance a household receives. It raises the ceiling on the rent a voucher can cover, while the household still pays roughly 30% of adjusted income. Figures are ZIP-weighted, not renter-weighted, and rest on 2019–2023 American Community Survey data trended forward.

This page shows official HUD Fair Market Rent data for general educational use — it is not legal, financial, or housing advice, and is not a guarantee of any voucher amount. Your local Public Housing Authority sets the actual payment standard and approves rents. Always confirm with your PHA and the official HUD FMR data.

Check a rent against a ZIP code → All 247 metro areas →