Last updated
Average Rent in Charleston, SC & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 12 apartment communities in Charleston, SC. Updated daily.
Market Average
$2,458/mo
▼ 1.3% from last month
Lowest Available
$1,600/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
12
tracked daily
Units Listed
215
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 | $2,669 | $1,600 | 6 | 120 |
| Charleston 29464 | $2,336 | $1,788 | 4 | 57 |
| Charleston 29412 | $2,065 | $1,688 | 1 | 24 |
| Charleston 29414 | $1,823 | $1,603 | 1 | 14 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Charleston, SC?
As of May 2026, the average rent in Charleston, SC is $2,458 per month across 12 apartment communities and 215 available units. Rents have decreased $31 (1.3%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is Meeting Street Lofts starting at $1,600/mo. By unit type, a studio averages $2,269/mo, a 1-bedroom averages $2,283/mo, a 2-bedroom averages $2,755/mo, a 3-bedroom averages $3,133/mo, a 4-bedroom averages $3,200/mo.
Prices range from $1,600 to $6,000 per month. The most common price point is the $2,200 range, where 37 units are currently listed.
Charleston, SC Rent Price History
Average Rent by Bedroom
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Charleston, SC
Rent Prices by Apartment in Charleston, SC
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meeting Street Lofts | $1,600/mo | $2,383/mo | 18 | 3.9 |
| MAA Cypress Cove | $1,603/mo | $1,823/mo | 14 | 4.2 |
| MAA James Island | $1,688/mo | $2,065/mo | 24 | 4.5 |
| Charleston Home Rentals, LLC | $1,700/mo | $2,795/mo | 11 | 3.5 |
| The Boulevard Apartments | $1,788/mo | $2,230/mo | 12 | 4.2 |
| MAA Rivers Walk | $1,863/mo | $2,341/mo | 34 | 4.6 |
| Atlantic on Romney Apartments | $1,973/mo | $2,936/mo | 30 | 4.7 |
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 much is a 1-bedroom 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
$98,000/year
30 percent rule -- using our average rent of $2,458/mo.
Comfortable income
$118,000/year
25 percent rule -- leaves more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,600/mo), you need to earn at least $64,000/year.
Median household income in Charleston, SC is $90,038 , about 24% 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) | $2,458 |
| Utilities | $530 |
| Groceries | $518 |
| Transportation | $1,264 |
| Healthcare | $617 |
| Other goods and services | $987 |
| Estimated total | $6,375/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 12 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.