USC Columbia 3 bedroom rentals: options for small groups

If you're planning to share with two roommates, USC Columbia 3 bedroom rentals give you more room to spread out than a typical two-bedroom. We've pulled five current listings from our Columbia listings page, all with three bedrooms, so you and your future roommates can compare them in one place.

It's late October, which is a good time to get your group together and start looking at next-year options. All five run on a Year Lease (12 Months), and their prices range from about a thousand dollars to just over twenty-five hundred. Here's a closer look at each one.

Begin your search at Off-Campus Universe, where you can browse current listings near Columbia.

3 Bd/2.5 Ba House 127 Rosewood Hills is a house with 3 beds and 2.5 baths, listed at $2,495/month. It's unfurnished, on a Year Lease (12 Months), and 5 to 10 minutes by car from campus. The lease timing is "9/1/2026", which is a little later than the usual August start, so ask the lister whether there's any flexibility if you need to move in before fall classes begin. That extra half bath can make mornings a lot easier with three people.

Montgomery Luxury Living is listed at $800/month. It has 3 beds and 2 baths, it's unfurnished, and it's listed as more than 10 minutes by car from campus. It's on a Year Lease (12 Months) with the lease timing reading "July to July", and it's marked as rent by room, so ask whether $800/month is the price of one bedroom and how the other rooms are filled.

Flamingo SFH is listed at $750/month for 3 beds and 1.5 baths, furnished, on a Year Lease (12 Months). It's more than 10 minutes by car from campus, and the timing is "Until leased". It's marked as rent by room, so if you're planning to take it as a group of three, ask the lister how they price the whole house, and agree with your roommates on who'll take which room before you apply, especially if the bedrooms aren't the same size.

1819 Greene is the highest price in this group at $2,505/month. It has 3 beds and 1 bath, it's unfurnished, and it's under 5 minutes by car from campus, so it's one of the closest options here. The lease timing is "8/1/2026". One bathroom for three people is worth thinking about honestly, so talk it through with your group and weigh it against the short trip to class.

Manager is a house with 3 beds and 2 baths, unfurnished, at $2,150/month. It's more than 10 minutes by car from campus, on a 9-month lease with the lease timing listed as "September". This one isn't marked as available right now, so reach out to the lister to ask when it opens up and whether you could get on a waiting list or schedule a showing ahead of time.

Why three bedrooms works for a lot of renters

A three-bedroom gives you a middle ground between a smaller two-bedroom and a big shared house. You usually get more common space than you would in a two-bedroom, and with fewer people than a four or five-bedroom place, it's easier to agree on house rules, schedules and bills.

It can also spread costs. Splitting a three-bedroom with two roommates may be easier on each person's budget than renting a one-bedroom alone, though that depends on the listing and how the lease is set up. The prices shown here are the listed monthly rent, so confirm with each lister how they expect rent to be paid and whether each of you would sign the lease.

The bathroom count matters more than many renters expect. Among these five listings, you'll see 1, 2 and 2.5 baths. If you've lived with roommates before, you already know how much a second bathroom can help. If you haven't, it's worth factoring in alongside price and drive time.

Lease timing is the other piece to line up. The dates on these listings vary quite a bit, from a June start to September. If everyone in your group has a different end date on their current housing, figure out the earliest and latest move-in dates that work for all three of you, then ask each lister whether their timing can fit inside that window.

USC Columbia 3 bedroom rentals: how to plan as a group

The best way to approach USC Columbia 3 bedroom rentals is to sort out your group before you start touring. Things tend to go more smoothly when you can show up with everyone's information ready, and you'll avoid the stress of trying to fill a room at the last minute.

Start by agreeing on a budget. Look at what each person can comfortably pay, then work backward to a total monthly rent that fits. Add in an estimate for utilities and internet so nobody is caught off guard when the first bills arrive.

Next, talk about the lease. All five of these listings are on a Year Lease (12 Months). Ask the lister whether they use one shared lease or individual agreements, whether everyone would be responsible for the full rent together, how the deposit is handled, and what happens if one roommate needs to leave early.

Finally, talk about living habits. Who wants the biggest bedroom, and does that person pay a bit more? How will you split groceries, cleaning and shared supplies? These conversations can feel awkward, but having them now makes the whole year go more smoothly.

It also helps to pick one person to handle communication with the lister. That way nobody sends conflicting answers, and you can keep a single thread with all the details on rent, dates and fees. Share screenshots or notes in your group chat after each conversation so everyone sees the same information before you decide.

Four tips for renting with roommates in Columbia

• Settle on a group budget, including utilities, before you start booking tours.

• Ask each lister whether the lease is shared or individual, and how the deposit is split.

• Compare bathroom counts and bedroom sizes, not just price and drive time.

• Put your room assignments and bill-splitting plan in writing so everyone is on the same page, and keep a copy of the signed lease where all three of you can find it.

Ready to find your place? Browse all listings at Off-Campus Universe.

This article is provided by an independent housing resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the University of South Carolina.