2-Bedroom Rent · August 2026

2-Bedroom Apartment Rent in Chapel Hill, NC

$1,588/mo

Median asking rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Chapel Hill, North Carolina as of August 2026. That's +6% lower than the citywide median of $1,698 and +4% below the national 2-bedroom median of $1,655.

2-Bedroom median
$1,588
August 2026
vs city overall
-6%
$1,698 city median
vs national
-4%
$1,655 US median
North Carolina rank
#92
of 125 cities

Income needed for a 2-bedroom in Chapel Hill

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 2-bedroom at the current median rent.

Annual income
$63,520
Monthly gross
$5,293
Hourly (full-time)
$30.54

Rent by apartment size in Chapel Hill

Compare Chapel Hill's median rent across every apartment size.

Studio
$1,314
1-Bedroom
$1,390
2-Bedroom (current)
$1,588
3-Bedroom
$1,980
4+ Bedroom
$2,380

Cheapest cities for a 2-bedroom in North Carolina

#City2-Bedroom rent
1Gibsonville$726
2Ranlo$844
3Lumberton$930
4Shelby$930
5Bessemer City$932
6Marion$940
7Aberdeen$950
8Kings Mountain$990
9Waynesville$991
10Lexington$995
11Mount Airy$1,000
12Albemarle$1,010
13Henderson$1,010
14Lillington$1,020
15Lenoir$1,030

Most expensive cities for a 2-bedroom in North Carolina

#City2-Bedroom rent
1Harrisburg$2,740
2Holly Springs$2,160
3Waxhaw$2,140
4Apex$2,107
5Davidson$2,070
6Surf City$2,067
7Kill Devil Hills$2,029
8Pineville$1,980
9Cary$1,943
10Mint Hill$1,900
11Fuquay Varina$1,840
12Durham$1,832
13Wake Forest$1,790
14Huntersville$1,768
15Arden$1,760

Nearby cities — 2-bedroom rent

Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper 2-bedroom rents than Chapel Hill.

CityDistance2-Bedroom rentvs Chapel Hill
Carrboro, NC5.7 mi$1,384$-204 (-13%)
Durham, NC10.7 mi$1,832+$244 (+15%)
Hillsborough, NC13 mi$1,740+$152 (+10%)
Morrisville, NC14.8 mi$1,548$-40 (-3%)
Pittsboro, NC15.9 mi$1,470$-118 (-7%)
Apex, NC16.1 mi$2,107+$519 (+33%)
Cary, NC18 mi$1,943+$355 (+22%)
Graham, NC21.8 mi$1,170$-418 (-26%)
Holly Springs, NC22.6 mi$2,160+$572 (+36%)
Mebane, NC22.6 mi$1,470$-118 (-7%)
Raleigh, NC27.2 mi$1,437$-151 (-10%)
Fuquay Varina, NC28.9 mi$1,840+$252 (+16%)

2-Bedroom rent in Chapel Hill — common questions

How much is a 2-bedroom apartment in Chapel Hill?

As of August 2026, the median 2-bedroom apartment rent in Chapel Hill, North Carolina is $1,588 per month. This is +6% below the citywide median of $1,698.

What income do you need to afford a 2-bedroom in Chapel Hill?

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $63,520 ($5,293/month gross), which works out to roughly $30.54/hour at a full-time job.

Is Chapel Hill expensive for a 2-bedroom compared to the rest of the US?

Chapel Hill's 2-bedroom median of $1,588 is +4% below the national 2-bedroom median of $1,655. It ranks in the 46th percentile of US cities tracked.

How does Chapel Hill rank for 2-bedroom rent in North Carolina?

Among the 125 cities in North Carolina with 2-bedroom data, Chapel Hill ranks #92 from cheapest to most expensive.

Are there cheaper 2-bedroom options near Chapel Hill?

Yes — nearby cities with cheaper 2-bedroom rents include Carrboro ($1,384), Morrisville ($1,548), Pittsboro ($1,470).

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Methodology: Bedroom-level rent medians come from HUD Fair Market Rent data calibrated to the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for Chapel Hill, which serves as the citywide anchor. When the HUD bedroom values exceed the ZORI city median (a common quirk in luxury markets and small samples), bedroom values are proportionally scaled down to align. Income required uses the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline. Comparison rankings use the same data month across all cities (August 2026) and exclude cities with median rent below $400 or above $20,000.