Last updated
Average Rent in Charleston SC & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 9 apartment communities in Charleston SC. Updated daily.
Market Average
$2,800/mo
▲ +4.4% from last month
Lowest Available
$1,713/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
9
tracked daily
Units Listed
59
available now
Rent by Neighborhood in Charleston SC
Compare average rent across Charleston SC neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends.
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent | From | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOMO | $2,679 | $1,600 | 6 | 117 |
| Charleston 29464 | $2,361 | $1,788 | 4 | 43 |
| Charleston 29412 | $2,139 | $1,843 | 1 | 18 |
| Charleston 29414 | $1,873 | $1,663 | 1 | 11 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Charleston SC?
As of May 2026, the average rent in Charleston SC is $2,800 per month across 9 apartment communities and 59 available units. Rents have increased $108 (4.4%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is MAA Cypress Cove starting at $1,713/mo. By unit type, a 2-bedroom averages $2,800/mo.
Prices range from $1,713 to $3,788 per month. The most common price point is the $2,800 range, where 11 units are currently listed.
Charleston SC Rent Price History
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Charleston SC
Rent Prices by Apartment in Charleston SC
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAA Cypress Cove | $1,713/mo | $1,920/mo | 9 | 4.2 |
| Meeting Street Lofts | $1,940/mo | $2,781/mo | 9 | 3.9 |
| Charleston Home Rentals, LLC | $2,000/mo | $2,425/mo | 2 | 3.5 |
| MAA James Island | $2,403/mo | $2,552/mo | 4 | 4.5 |
| MAA Rivers Walk | $2,443/mo | $2,660/mo | 12 | 4.6 |
| MAA Runaway Bay | $2,675/mo | $2,675/mo | 2 | 4.6 |
| Caroline Apartments | $2,961/mo | $3,089/mo | 3 | 4.4 |
Google Search Trends for Charleston SC Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Charleston SC
What is the average rent in Charleston SC?
Is rent going up or down in Charleston SC?
What is the cheapest apartment in Charleston SC?
How many apartments are available in Charleston SC?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Charleston SC?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$112,000/year
30 percent rule -- using our average rent of $2,800/mo.
Comfortable income
$134,000/year
25 percent rule -- leaves more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,713/mo), you need to earn at least $69,000/year.
Median household income in Charleston SC is $90,038 , about 33% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Charleston SC
Overall prices in Charleston SC runs above the national average by about 1% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 101.1, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Charleston SC's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $2,800 |
| Utilities | $530 |
| Groceries | $518 |
| Transportation | $1,264 |
| Healthcare | $617 |
| Other goods and services | $987 |
| Estimated total | $6,717/mo |
Population
152,014
Median household income
$90,038
Census median rent
$1,632/mo
Rent as % of income
31.4%
Median age
36.1
Mean commute
24 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Explore Charleston SC Apartments
Browse all 9 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.