Studio Apartment Rent in Cary, NC
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Cary, North Carolina as of July 2026. That's +5% lower than the citywide median of $1,775 and +31% above the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in Cary
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Cary
Compare Cary's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in North Carolina
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waynesville | $675 |
| 2 | Albemarle | $690 |
| 3 | Shelby | $700 |
| 4 | Lumberton | $720 |
| 5 | Lenoir | $730 |
| 6 | Henderson | $760 |
| 7 | Lillington | $770 |
| 8 | Marion | $790 |
| 9 | Aberdeen | $800 |
| 10 | Kings Mountain | $800 |
| 11 | Raeford | $810 |
| 12 | Graham | $840 |
| 13 | Kinston | $840 |
| 14 | Jacksonville | $845 |
| 15 | Lexington | $850 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in North Carolina
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harrisburg | $2,380 |
| 2 | Holly Springs | $1,870 |
| 3 | Waxhaw | $1,860 |
| 4 | Apex | $1,827 |
| 5 | Davidson | $1,800 |
| 6 | Cornelius | $1,770 |
| 7 | Chapel Hill | $1,725 |
| 8 | Pineville | $1,720 |
| 9 | Cary (this page) | $1,685 |
| 10 | Mint Hill | $1,650 |
| 11 | Fuquay Varina | $1,580 |
| 12 | Raleigh | $1,579 |
| 13 | Wake Forest | $1,560 |
| 14 | Huntersville | $1,521 |
| 15 | Knightdale | $1,520 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Cary.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Cary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrisville, NC | 5.7 mi | $1,352 | $-333 (-20%) |
| Apex, NC | 7 mi | $1,827 | +$142 (+8%) |
| Raleigh, NC | 11.7 mi | $1,579 | $-106 (-6%) |
| Holly Springs, NC | 12.4 mi | $1,870 | +$185 (+11%) |
| Durham, NC | 15.2 mi | $1,517 | $-168 (-10%) |
| Fuquay Varina, NC | 16.1 mi | $1,580 | $-105 (-6%) |
| Garner, NC | 17.7 mi | $1,470 | $-215 (-13%) |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 18 mi | $1,725 | +$40 (+2%) |
| Angier, NC | 21.9 mi | $1,290 | $-395 (-23%) |
| Wake Forest, NC | 22.9 mi | $1,560 | $-125 (-7%) |
| Knightdale, NC | 23 mi | $1,520 | $-165 (-10%) |
| Carrboro, NC | 23.1 mi | $1,144 | $-541 (-32%) |
Studio rent in Cary — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Cary?
As of July 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Cary, North Carolina is $1,685 per month. This is +5% below the citywide median of $1,775.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Cary?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $67,400 ($5,617/month gross), which works out to roughly $32.40/hour at a full-time job.
Is Cary expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Cary's studio median of $1,685 is +31% above the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 75th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Cary rank for studio rent in North Carolina?
Among the 118 cities in North Carolina with studio data, Cary ranks #110 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Cary?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Morrisville ($1,352), Raleigh ($1,579), Durham ($1,517).