5 Best Columbia Homeowners Insurance Companies (2025)

USAA and Chubb are among the best home insurance companies in Columbia, South Carolina.

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Homeowners in Columbia, South Carolina, pay an annual average of $1,980 for a home insurance policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage and a $1,000 deductible. This is less than both the national and state averages for comparable coverage.

But Columbia homeowners may also want to add additional windstorm protection, as 97% of properties in the city are susceptible to wind damage, largely from hurricanes. Wildfires are also a major risk in the area, though standard insurance policies typically cover them.[?]

Here’s what you need to know about finding homeowners insurance in Columbia, South Carolina.

Quick Facts
  • The cheapest insurance company for homeowners in Columbia is Allstate, with average rates of $88 per month.

  • The South Carolina state average for a $300,000 dwelling policy is $2,436 per year.

  • On average, home insurance on a $300,000 policy in Columbia costs $184 per month for a policy with a $500 deductible.

Best home insurance companies in Columbia

Many quality insurers serve homeowners in Columbia. But the best home insurance company for your property will depend on your budget and individual needs. Here are five solid insurers to start your search with.

Best for windstorm coverage: USAA

Best for customer satisfaction: Chubb

Best for discounts: Allstate

Best for claim-filing ease: Nationwide

Best for local service: Southern Farm Bureau

If you like hands-on assistance, Southern Farm Bureau is a good company to explore. The insurer is dedicated to working within the community and has multiple offices in South Carolina, including in Columbia. It offers home insurance, auto insurance, and multiple farm insurance options.

But you need a Farm Bureau membership to apply, and premiums are more expensive than those of competitors.

Pros
  • Local, personalized assistance

  • Offers flood insurance

  • AM Best rating of A (Excellent)

Cons
  • More expensive than competitors

  • Must be a Farm Bureau member

  • Fewer discounts than competitors

  • Our editorial team analyzed regional and national home insurance companies that sell policies in Columbia to assess which offer the best rates, coverage options, customer service, and savings to homeowners. We prioritized competitive rates, 24/7 customer service, homeownership discounts or bundling options, and specialty or supplemental coverages.

How much is home insurance in Columbia?

The average cost of home insurance in Columbia is $165 per month, or $1,980 per year, for $300,000 in dwelling coverage. The exact amount you’ll pay depends on a number of factors, including coverage amounts, deductible, how much it would cost to rebuild your home, the insurer you choose, how susceptible your home is to natural disasters and theft, and more.[?]

Home insurance premiums in Columbia are less than the South Carolina state average of $2,436 per year.

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Cheapest home insurance companies in Columbia

The cheapest home insurance company for your property depends on what coverages you need, your ZIP code, and other factors. But here’s a look at which insurers offer the lowest premiums overall.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Monday, October 6 at 5:00 PM PDT
Insurance Company
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Average Annual Premium
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Chubb$780
Allstate$828
Qbe$972
Travelers$1,020
USAA$1,104
Nationwide$1,116
Allied$1,236
State Farm$1,476
Foremost$1,920
Auto-Owners$2,040
Encompass$2,784
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Monday, October 6 at 5:00 PM PDT
Insurance Company
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Average Annual Premium
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Allstate$1,620
Chubb$2,076
Qbe$2,220
USAA$2,244
Travelers$2,340
Nationwide$2,604
Allied$2,832
State Farm$2,856
Auto-Owners$3,576
Encompass$5,304
Foremost$5,364
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Monday, October 6 at 5:00 PM PDT
Insurance Company
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Average Annual Premium
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Allstate$2,340
Chubb$3,156
Qbe$3,276
USAA$3,360
Travelers$3,444
State Farm$3,936
Allied$4,020
Nationwide$4,356
Auto-Owners$5,280
Encompass$6,588
Foremost$8,232

How much homeowners insurance do you need in Columbia?

Home insurance provides protection against three things: damage to the structure of your home, damage to your belongings within the home, and liability if someone is hurt while at your home. It can also help cover living expenses if you have to stay at a hotel due to home damage.

The amount of coverage you need can vary widely from one homeowner to another. It’ll depend on the cost of rebuilding your property, the risk of liability in the house, the costs of your belongings, and your daily living expenses.

Experts recommend multiplying your home’s total square footage by the local, per-square-foot building costs to know how much insurance you need.[?] In South Carolina, this is about $180 per square foot. You’ll also need to do an inventory of your personal belongings and determine if you need additional liability insurance over the typical $100,000 that’s in a standard homeowners policy.

What to know about home insurance in Columbia, SC

There’s no minimum amount of home insurance that South Carolina legally requires, but it’s important to consider local conditions and risks when getting your policy.

In terms of weather, wind is the biggest risk to homes in Columbia, largely due to hurricanes. Wildfires are another risk, affecting 60% of properties in Columbia. South Carolina is the fifth-most affected state when it comes to Atlantic hurricanes. All these weather risks can make it difficult to choose how much coverage you need.

A standard home insurance policy will cover wildfire damage, but some insurers may have restrictions on hurricane and windstorm coverage in higher-risk areas. If this is the case with your insurer, you may need to pay an extra deductible or purchase additional windstorm insurance to ensure you have adequate protection.

If you’re unable to find coverage from a traditional insurer, you can get wind coverage through the South Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriting Association, also called the Wind Pool. Though flooding isn’t a major risk in the area, it can happen with hurricanes. Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program or through private insurers.

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Average cost of home insurance in other cities in South Carolina

Crime rates, hurricane and wildfire risk, proximity to fire and police services, and other risk and security factors can vary between cities and even between ZIP codes. This means that home insurance premiums can vary quite a bit, too.

See below how Columbia’s average premiums measure up to other major cities in South Carolina.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Monday, October 6 at 5:00 PM PDT
City
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Average Annual Premium: With $300,000 in Dwelling Coverage
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Greenville$1,800
Charlotte$1,812
Spartanburg$1,824
Columbia$1,980
Charleston$4,164
Myrtle Beach$4,884

Columbia homeowners insurance FAQs

For more information on Columbia home insurance, check out the additional information below.

  • The average cost of home insurance in Columbia is $1,980 per year, or $165 per month, for a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage. In some cases, you may need additional coverage for hurricane and wind protection, which can add to your costs.

  • The cheapest home insurance company in Columbia, South Carolina is Allstate, with an average monthly premium of $88 for a policy with $300,000 in dwelling coverage.

  • No single company is the best for every homeowner. But we found that some of the best home insurance companies in Columbia are Chubb, Allstate, and USAA. They offer a combination of low premiums, good coverage, and discounts.

  • The 80% rule refers to an industry standard for homeowners insurance. Most home insurance companies require you to cover your house for at least 80% of its total replacement cost in order for them to fully pay out on a claim.

  • You can multiply your home’s square footage by the average per-square-foot building cost in your area to get your estimated dwelling coverage. It’s a good idea to have enough coverage for at least 80% of the value of your home. Then, take a home inventory to determine your personal property coverage. Assess your risks to see if you need more than the standard $100,000 in liability insurance.[?]

  • You may need to add additional windstorm coverage due to the risk of hurricanes in the area. While standard home insurance policies cover wind damage, some insurers restrict coverage in higher-risk areas.

  • Flood risk is low in Columbia, South Carolina, but hurricanes are common in the area. If you want protection from flooding that could happen from a hurricane, you may want flood insurance coverage.

Aly J. Yale
Aly J. Yale

Aly J. Yale is a freelance writer and reporter covering real estate, mortgages, and personal finance. Her work has been published in Forbes, Business Insider, Money, CBS News, US News & World Report, and The Miami Herald. She has a bachelor’s degree in radio-TV-film and news-editorial journalism from the Bob Schieffer College of Communication at TCU and is a member of the National Association of Real Estate Editors.

Aly has been a contributor at Insurify since September 2023.

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