Columbia Student City Guide (2025)

Welcome to your complete Columbia city guide, designed for students who want affordable living, top universities, a welcoming community, and a city packed with parks, arts, and real Southern comfort. Columbia, South Carolina, blends campus energy with a relaxed lifestyle, making it one of the most balanced student cities in the Southeast. In this Columbia city guide, you’ll find everything you need: the best places to stay in Columbia, a deep look at the top Universities in Columbia, nightlife, food, transport, and the cost of living in Columbia.
What makes Columbia stand out is how easy it feels to live here as a student. You can finish a class and be kayaking on the river, watching a football game at Williams-Brice Stadium, grabbing soul food in Five Points, or walking through the historic districts. This Columbia city guide helps you understand the city like someone who already lives here, from neighbourhoods and rent ranges to weekend plans and student housing options.

About Columbia

Columbia is the capital city of South Carolina, home to over 140,000 residents in the city and more than 830,000 across the metro. It’s known for its friendly neighborhoods, huge student population, historic buildings, and the kind of Southern charm that makes settling in easy. Columbia has a safety index of around 55 and a crime rate of 44 per 1,000 residents, though major student areas like Five Points, Shandon, Forest Acres, and Downtown remain much safer, more walkable, and heavily patrolled.
The cost of living in this city is one of the city’s strongest advantages. Students typically spend $1,200–$1,600 per month, including rent, making it significantly cheaper than Atlanta, Charlotte, or Charleston. Grocery prices, utilities, and transport remain manageable, which is why the cost of living in Columbia attracts thousands of new students every year. The city is highly connected through COMET buses, Blue Bike SC, pedestrian zones, and major bike routes near campuses. Columbia’s warm weather, green parks, and steady job market make it a comfortable and practical choice for student life. This Columbia city guide for students breaks everything down so you can start planning easily.

Universities in Columbia

Columbia has a strong academic scene anchored by well-established institutions known for research, diversity, arts, and community-focused programs. Here are the top Universities in Columbia:
1. Allen University (Established 1870): A private HBCU known for arts, business, and education programs. The campus community is tight-knit, offering leadership programs and direct community engagement opportunities.
2. University of South Carolina (Established 1801): The largest and most prestigious university in the state. USC is nationally ranked for engineering, business, public health, law, and sports science. Its campus stretches across the heart of Downtown, giving students easy access to cafes, libraries, and nightlife.
3. Benedict College (Established 1870): A private HBCU known for STEM, education, and entrepreneurship programs. Benedict emphasizes career readiness and community-focused learning, with strong ties to local businesses.
4. Columbia College (Established 1854): A liberal arts college known for education, arts, health sciences, and leadership programs. It offers small classes and a supportive environment for both domestic and international students.
5. Midlands Technical College (Established 1974): One of South Carolina’s largest technical colleges, providing programs in IT, business, engineering tech, and healthcare. It’s ideal for students seeking flexible schedules or a stepping stone into a 4-year university.
Living near these campuses gives you quick access to coffee shops, internships, libraries, and safe residential neighborhoods. This Columbia city guide includes them because they’re essential to understanding the student experience.

Food & Dining in Columbia

Columbia has an underrated but genuinely impressive food scene. This Columbia city guide highlights places students actually love, the ones that fit student budgets, late-night cravings, and weekend brunch plans.
Student-favorite spots:
1. Pawleys Front Porch (Five Points): Famous for creative burgers, student-friendly prices, and a lively atmosphere. Meals usually fall between $12–$20.
2. Mr. Friendly’s New Southern cafe: One of the best spots for Southern comfort food, perfect for weekend group dinners.
3. Publico Kitchen & Tap: Tacos, bowls, brunch plates, and late-night bites. A go-to for students across USC.
4. College Grounds cafe: A cozy study-friendly coffee shop with strong lattes and affordable sandwiches.
5. Lizard’s Thicket: Southern home-style cooking with generous portions, perfect for students who want comfort meals without overspending. You’ll also find affordable grocery stores like Food Lion, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, and Publix spread across major student neighborhoods.

Nightlife & Social Life

Columbia’s social scene is fun, young, and full of different types of hangouts. This part of the Columbia city guide shows the areas students choose most.
1. Five Points: Five Points is the true heart of student nightlife with bars, clubs, karaoke rooms, and live music tucked into every corner. The energy stays loud all week and hits its peak on weekends. Students show up here for everything from cheap eats to last-minute night outs with friends.
2. The Vista (Congaree Vista District): The Vista feels trendier and a little more grown up with polished lounges, wine bars, rooftops, and sit-down restaurants. It’s perfect for nights when you want a social vibe without the chaos. A lot of students come here for birthdays, date nights, and chill weekend plans.
3. Main Street District: Main Street mixes culture and nightlife with cafes, breweries, art pop ups, and outdoor markets that shift with the season. The First Thursday festival pulls huge student crowds and keeps the area buzzing. It’s the spot you hit when you want something fun but not too wild.
4. Devine Street: Devine Street gives you a stylish mix of boutiques, coffee shops, and relaxed pub-style hangouts. The vibe is slower and more local, which makes it great for long conversations or casual nights out. Students love it for early evening plans before heading somewhere livelier.
5. Rosewood: Rosewood is quieter and more laid back with neighborhood cafes, craft breweries, and small music events. It’s a solid choice when you want to unwind after classes without dealing with crowds. The whole area feels very community-based and easygoing. Whether you’re into concerts, bar hopping, food festivals, or late-night ice-cream runs, Columbia has options that fit every vibe.

Transport in Columbia

Transport in Columbia is simple once you understand the student zones. Getting around Columbia is easy, reliable, and cost-effective once you know the major routes using this Columbia travel guide. The city’s primary transport system is The COMET, which covers all major student neighborhoods such as Downtown, Five Points, Shandon, Rosewood, and North Main. A single COMET ride costs around $2, while monthly student passes usually sit between $40 and $50, making it one of the most budget-friendly options in the Southeast. USC students often benefit from university-supported transit access, giving them discounted or even free rides on specific routes. Cycling is another major part of student life here. Columbia has expanded its bike lane network, especially around Downtown, USC, and Five Points. The Blue Bike SC rental program lets students pick up bicycles around the city for short, inexpensive trips, perfect for commutes under 15 minutes. Walking is highly practical in core student neighborhoods. USC’s surrounding areas, like Five Points and Shandon, are extremely pedestrian-friendly, with cafes, grocery shops, and parks just a few minutes apart.
Rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft fill in the gaps during late nights or grocery trips. Students often split rides to keep costs low. For weekend plans, Columbia connects well to Charlotte, Charleston, and Greenville via Greyhound and Southeastern Stages buses, giving you easy access to beaches, mountains, and city events. Overall, transportation remains one of the most affordable parts of the cost of living, and most students get around comfortably without needing a car, a key reason why this Columbia city guide emphasizes walkability and transit access.

Cost of Living in Columbia

The cost of living in Columbia is genuinely student-friendly compared to other major South Carolina cities. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Average Monthly Student Budget (USD)

The cost of living here is one of the lowest among major student cities in the region. Students who choose shared apartments or locations slightly outside the center, such as Forest Acres or Rosewood, save even more on monthly spending. Because groceries, utilities, and transport remain affordable, the total cost of living in Columbia stays manageable even for international students. Part-time jobs are widely available across retail, food service, and campus facilities, which also helps balance the cost of living throughout the semester.

Top Columbia Tourist Attractions

If you’re browsing this Columbia city guide to figure out how to spend your weekends, you’re in the right place. Columbia blends waterfront chill, historic streets, and nature in a way that keeps student life interesting without breaking your budget. Here are the must-visit tourist attractions every student should check out:
1. Riverbanks Zoo & Garden

One of the top attractions in Columbia SC, is home to over 2,000 animals, botanical gardens, and riverfront trails. Students love it for weekend walks and photography spots.

2. Congaree National Park

A stunning national park just outside the city with kayaking routes, boardwalk trails, and some of the tallest trees in the Southeast. A must-visit in any list of things to do in Columbia SC.

3. South Carolina State Museum

A huge museum featuring history, art, science, and a planetarium. It’s educational, affordable, and a common student pick for low-budget weekends.

4. Soda City Market

Held every Saturday on Main Street, this market mixes food stalls, artists, live music, and community energy, a true Columbia staple.

5. Columbia Museum of Art

Known for rotating exhibits, student discounts, and interactive events. A consistent entry in most lists of attractions in Columbia SC.

Places to Stay in Columbia for Students

Choosing the right neighborhood shapes your whole experience, and this Columbia city guide breaks down the best student areas with real vibe notes, rent snapshots, and commute context.
1. Five Points: The most popular student neighborhood, thanks to its bars, restaurants, thrift shops, and proximity to USC. Expect rent between $1,000–1,400 for most apartments. It’s lively, social, walkable, and perfect for students who want nightlife mixed with convenience.
2. Shandon: A quiet, residential, tree-lined neighborhood filled with character homes and peaceful streets. Rents average $1,100–1,600, depending on apartment type. It’s ideal for students who want calm evenings, safe streets, and a quick bike ride to campus.
3. The Vista (Congaree Vista)
Trendy and artistic with loft apartments, cafes, galleries, and easy access to Downtown. Rent sits around $1,200–1,800. The vibe is modern and creative, especially for students in arts and business programs.
4. Forest Acres: Safe, suburban, and full of parks, affordable groceries, and clean apartment complexes. Rent averages $900–1,400, making it a budget-friendly option with reliable bus routes.
5. Rosewood: Relaxed, residential, and full of indie cafes, breweries, and chill student spots. Rent ranges from $900–1,300. It’s one of the most balanced places to stay in Columbia for students who prefer quieter social energy.

Student Housing in Columbia

Finding the right place becomes easy with amber, where you get verified listings, transparent pricing, and options near every major campus. You’ll find shared rooms, private studios, furnished units, and premium student apartments in Columbia with Wi-Fi, utilities, study lounges, gyms, and community events included. Choosing student housing in Columbia also helps reduce commute times and overall expenses. Amber offers safe, well-connected student apartments in Columbia near USC, Allen University, Benedict College, and Midlands Tech, making student life comfortable, affordable, and community-focused. Here are some of the top student housing options in Columbia:
1. The Rowan
2. The Row At The Stadium
3. Greene Crossing
4. Station At Five Points

Conclusion

Columbia is the kind of city that feels welcoming from day one. This Columbia city guide shows you everything that makes the city work for students, strong universities, manageable costs, good transport, safe neighborhoods, weekend adventures, and a culture built around community. Whether you’re comparing universities in Columbia, planning your budget, or looking for neighborhoods that match your vibe, this Columbia student city guide gives you the full roadmap. Use this Columbia city guide to find your space, settle in smoothly, and start enjoying one of the most student-friendly cities in the Southeast.

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