Allen University · Living here

Cost of living near Allen University: Columbia, SC

Columbia, Richland County, SC · Columbia, SC metro area. Built only from public data, with each figure's source and year. County figures describe the whole county, not just the neighborhood around campus.

Estimated monthly student budget

Off-campus, sharing a 2-bedroom, 9-month academic year. Estimate, not a quote.

  • Rent + utilities (your half of a 2-bedroom)

    Here $585/moU.S. typical $704/mo
    Source

    ACS county median gross rent for a 2-bedroom (gross rent includes utilities) ÷ 2 roommates

  • Groceries

    Here $331/moU.S. typical $344/mo
    Source

    USDA Thrifty Food Plan (avg of adult female/male 20–50, +20% single-person adjustment) × BEA goods price parity

  • Transportation, phone & personal

    Here $333/moU.S. typical $469/mo
    Source

    College-reported 'other expenses' for off-campus students (Scorecard 2024–25) ÷ 9 months

  • Books & supplies

    Here $145/moU.S. typical n/a
    Source

    College-reported books & supplies ÷ 9 months

  • Total / month$1,394U.S. typical $1,517*

Rent, groceries and other costs here are about $268/month less than the U.S. typical student estimate (excluding books).

*U.S. column uses national ACS 2-bedroom rent, the unadjusted USDA plan, and the median college-reported off-campus “other expenses” across 1,935 colleges; no national books figure. Not included: tuition, health insurance, travel home, furniture/deposits, dining out. On campus instead? The college reports room & board of $8,584 per year ($954/month over 9 months).

Source: Estimate built from ACS 2020–2024 (rent), USDA Thrifty Food Plan 2026-08 × BEA goods RPP 2024 (groceries), and the college's own Scorecard 2024–25 cost components.

Cost of living

Prices overall are 6% below the U.S. average (U.S. = 100).

All items93.7
U.S. 100.0
Housing rents79.5
U.S. 100.0
Goods (incl. groceries)96.3
U.S. 100.0
Utilities88.3
U.S. 100.0
Other services98.3
U.S. 100.0

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, Columbia, SC metro

Rent & housing

Studio$1,038
U.S. $1,248
1 bedroom$1,111
U.S. $1,235
2 bedrooms$1,169
U.S. $1,407
All rentals (median)$1,228
U.S. $1,413
On-campus room & board (college, per year)
$8,584
Off-campus room & board (college estimate, per year)
$6,000

ACS medians are 5-year averages and run below today's asking rents in fast-rising markets. HUD Fair Market Rents aren't included yet.

Source: Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year, county median gross rent (rent + utilities) by bedrooms; College Scorecard 2024–25 room & board

Getting around

How local workers commute. It's a proxy for transit and walkability, not a Walk Score.

Public transit0.7%
U.S. 3.2%
Walk5.4%
U.S. 2.4%
Bicycle0.1%
U.S. —
Drive alone71.3%
U.S. 68.8%
Work from home12.6%
U.S. —

Source: Census ACS 2020–2024, means of transportation to work (county workers 16+)

Things to do (proxy)

Per 10,000 residents. Business counts are a rough stand-in for nightlife and amenities; they don't measure quality or student-friendliness.

Restaurants, cafés & bars20.1
U.S. 21.3

848 establishments in the county

Bars & drinking places0.7
U.S. 1.2

28 in the county (21+ in the U.S.)

Arts, entertainment & recreation3.4
U.S. 5.0

142 venues, gyms, museums, etc.

Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023 establishment counts ÷ ACS county population

Groceries & daily needs

Grocery & food stores per 10k residents4.4
U.S. 4.8

Estimated groceries for one student: $331/month (USDA Thrifty plan, adjusted by local goods prices). Cooking more or eating out raises it.

Source: Census CBP 2023 (food & beverage retailers, NAICS 445); USDA Thrifty Food Plan Aug 2026; BEA goods RPP 2024

People

Population
422,117
Median age
34.4
U.S. 38.9
Median household income
$63,784
U.S. $80,734
Diversity index
0.62
U.S. 0.61

Diversity index = chance that two random residents differ in race/ethnicity (0–1), from ACS table B03002.

Source: Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (B01003, B01002, B19013, B03002), county

Healthcare nearby

Hospitals in county
10
Clinics & outpatient providers
752

Most colleges require health insurance. International students usually must buy the school plan or show an equivalent.

Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023 (NAICS 622 hospitals, 621 ambulatory care)

Also check (not in our data yet)

Sources & years

County matched via IPEDS HD2024 county code; metro via IPEDS CBSA. Figures are averages and estimates for planning, not guarantees.

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