How much is rent per person in Columbus, Ohio?

Columbus's two-bedroom median near $1,445 splits to about $722 each between two roommates, or roughly $481 a person three ways. A three-bedroom near $1,741 gives everyone a room for around the cost of many cities' two-bedrooms.

Does Ohio require landlords to pay interest on deposits?

Yes. Under Ohio Revised Code 5321.16, deposits come back within 30 days of move-out, and amounts above the greater of one month's rent or $50 earn annual interest. Document each Columbus roommate's share so the refund and interest split fairly.

How to Split Rent in Columbus, OH

Columbus stays unusually affordable for a major Midwestern city. The two-bedroom median runs about $1,445 and a one-bedroom near $1,194, which makes it a favorite for roommate pairs and a city where the split math is mercifully clean. Rents have climbed, though, jumping nearly 11% year over year into FY2025 as the job market grew, so locking in a stable arrangement early in a lease pays off.

The variable to plan around is Ohio State University. Every August, thousands of students cycle through the rental market, driving short-notice roommate changes and mid-lease handoffs. Near campus or subletting to a student, the odds of a roommate transition mid-year are high enough to plan for in writing.

Median rent in Columbus, OH

Bedroom type	Median monthly rent
1 bedroom	$1,194/mo
2 bedroom	$1,445/mo
3 bedroom	$1,741/mo

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents FY2025 (as of 2024-10).

Fair ways to split the $1,445.00/mo two-bedroom

2 roommates, even$722.50 · $722.50

3 roommates, even$481.67 · $481.67 · $481.66

4 roommates, even$361.25 · $361.25 · $361.25 · $361.25

By income (60 / 40)$867.00 · $578.00

By room (larger / smaller, 55 / 45)$794.75 · $650.25

Columbus splits, with the cleaner figures

A Columbus two-bedroom at $1,445 divides to about $722 each between two roommates. Three-way it lands near $481 a person, close enough that any fair calculator settles the leftover penny without drama.

Because rent runs lower here, utilities take a bigger bite of the monthly budget than in pricier cities. Agree upfront whether electric, internet, and renter's insurance ride inside the rent split or get tracked separately. Tracking them on their own keeps things transparent and heads off the slow resentment that builds when one roommate suspects the other runs the heat too high.

Planning for Ohio State turnover

Ohio State's semester rhythm drives a predictable churn in rentals near campus. Leases ending in May or August fill quickly, and mid-year leases often involve swapping a departing student for someone new.

Before signing a lease that allows subletting or roommate substitutions, agree in writing on how the deposit transfers. Ohio doesn't require landlords to reissue deposits when a co-tenant changes, so the existing deposit stays with the lease, and a quick written note on who reimburses whom heads off a dispute six months later.

Ohio's deposit-interest rule

Ohio Revised Code section 5321.16 requires landlords to return deposits within 30 days of move-out, and if the deposit exceeds the greater of one month's rent or $50, the landlord must pay annual interest on the excess. The interest is modest, but it signals that Ohio expects deposits handled carefully.

Get each roommate's deposit share in writing and keep a copy. A three-bedroom at Columbus's median near $1,741 carries a larger deposit than a studio, so having the split on paper means no arguments when the refund, plus any interest, comes back.

Local notes for Columbus renters

Ohio Revised Code § 5321.16 requires landlords to return security deposits within 30 days of move-out, and if the deposit exceeds the greater of one month's rent or $50, the landlord must pay annual interest on the excess amount.
Columbus has a large student population centered on Ohio State University, so mid-lease roommate turnover is common and worth planning for with clear subletting or replacement-roommate terms in any written agreement.
Columbus FMRs rose nearly 11% year-over-year from FY2024 to FY2025, reflecting the city's growing job market and increased rental demand — making it worth locking in a stable split arrangement early in a lease.

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Questions

How much is rent per person in Columbus, Ohio?: Columbus's two-bedroom median near $1,445 splits to about $722 each between two roommates, or roughly $481 a person three ways. A three-bedroom near $1,741 gives everyone a room for around the cost of many cities' two-bedrooms.
Does Ohio require landlords to pay interest on deposits?: Yes. Under Ohio Revised Code 5321.16, deposits come back within 30 days of move-out, and amounts above the greater of one month's rent or $50 earn annual interest. Document each Columbus roommate's share so the refund and interest split fairly.