How much does it cost to rent in Charlotte, NC?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Charlotte, NC is $1,746. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Charlotte cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

Charlotte falls in the middle range for North Carolina, ranking #63 out of 126 cities at $1,746/mo.

When was Charlotte rent data last updated?

Charlotte rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Zetong Li / Unsplash

City Report · NC

Charlotte

Name: Average Rent Prices in Charlotte, NC
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 903,844·63rd most expensive in North Carolina·Rental market data updated monthly for Charlotte, NC

Median rent (all units)

$1,746/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.1%

Month-over-Month

+0.7%

vs US Median

-$219

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Charlotte · $1,746

More affordable than 58% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

71/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 11% below what Charlotte's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,746/mo

Expected by trend

$1,951/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Charlotte's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,403

1 BR

$1,457

2 BR

$1,613

3 BR

$1,990

4 BR+

$2,522

Research median

$1,613/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$20,952/yr

At $1,746/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.1% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.1% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Charlotte, NC is roughly split between renters and owners, 48% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

903,844

Median income

$82,068

Median age

34.5

Renters

49%

Age distribution

22.7%

28.2%

27.5%

Under 1822.7%

18–3428.2%

35–5427.5%

55–6410.5%

65+11%

Gender

48.4%

51.6%

Male48.4%

Female51.6%

Race & ethnicity

39.9%

33.6%

17.5%

White39.9%

Black33.6%

Hispanic17.5%

Asian6.5%

Other2.4%

Education (25+)

16.8%

24.8%

48%

No HS diploma10.5%

HS diploma16.8%

Some college24.8%

Bachelor's+48%

Housing tenure

51%

49%

Owner51%

Renter49%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Charlotte, NC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,368 → $1,746

up 27.6%

Income

$68,367 → $82,068

up 20.0%

Population

864,871 → 903,844

up 4.5%

Renter share

47.3% → 49%

+1.7 pts

Bachelor's+

45.7% → 48%

+2.3 pts

Across the past five years, the going rent in Charlotte, NC has shifted from $1,368 to $1,746, up 27.6% since 2021. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $68,367 in 2021 to $82,068 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Charlotte, NC adding about 38,973 residents over the five-year window, up 4.5% on net. The renter share has risen from 47.3% to 49%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 45.7% to 48% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Charlotte, NC market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Charlotte

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View Charlotte rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Charlotte on your salary?

At $1,746/mo, how Charlotte rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $88,811/yr · Rent = 23.6% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $63,055/yr · Rent = 33.2% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $72,634/yr · Rent = 28.8% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $129,823/yr · Rent = 16.1% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $165,882/yr · Rent = 12.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $59,041/yr · Rent = 35.5% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $53,307/yr · Rent = 39.3% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $65,706/yr · Rent = 31.9% income

stretched

By apartment size

Charlotte rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Charlotte. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Charlotte

About renting in Charlotte, NC

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Charlotte is $1,746/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,403/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,613/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,457/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,990/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($82,068/yr), Charlotte ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Charlotte an affordable city for renters?

Charlotte is considered affordable for renters. At $1,746/mo, rent takes approximately 26% of the local median household income ($82,068/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Charlotte falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Charlotte?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $70,000/year (~$34/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,746/mo in Charlotte. The local median household income is $82,068/yr, meaning the typical Charlotte household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Charlotte?

Rent in Charlotte has increased 2.1% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Charlotte neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Charlotte are 28212 ($1,337/mo), 28210 ($1,497/mo), and 28206 ($1,538/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Charlotte is $1,746/mo.

How does Charlotte rent compare to other cities in North Carolina?

Charlotte is middle-of-the-pack for North Carolina for rent, ranking #63 out of 126 tracked cities at $1,746/mo.

What percentage of Charlotte residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 49% of Charlotte households are renters, while 51% are owner-occupied. Charlotte leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Charlotte rent compare to the national average?

Charlotte's median rent of $1,746/mo is $219 (11%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within North Carolina, it ranks #63 out of 126 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

26%

AFFORDABLE

At $1,746/mo, rent takes ~26% of Charlotte's median household income ($82,068/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Charlotte 26%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.5%

Run the Charlotte affordability calculator →

Nearby cities