Studio Apartment Rent in Durham, NC
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Durham, North Carolina as of August 2026. That's +9% lower than the citywide median of $1,675 and +18% above the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in Durham
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 Durham
Compare Durham'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 | Mount Airy | $810 |
| 12 | Raeford | $810 |
| 13 | Graham | $840 |
| 14 | Kinston | $840 |
| 15 | Washington | $840 |
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 | Pineville | $1,720 |
| 7 | Cary | $1,685 |
| 8 | Mint Hill | $1,650 |
| 9 | Fuquay Varina | $1,580 |
| 10 | Wake Forest | $1,560 |
| 11 | Huntersville | $1,540 |
| 12 | Knightdale | $1,520 |
| 13 | Durham (this page) | $1,517 |
| 14 | Mooresville | $1,510 |
| 15 | Arden | $1,500 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Durham.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrisville, NC | 9.6 mi | $1,332 | $-185 (-12%) |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 10.7 mi | $1,314 | $-203 (-13%) |
| Cary, NC | 15.2 mi | $1,685 | +$168 (+11%) |
| Hillsborough, NC | 15.2 mi | $1,440 | $-77 (-5%) |
| Carrboro, NC | 16 mi | $1,143 | $-374 (-25%) |
| Apex, NC | 17.7 mi | $1,827 | +$310 (+20%) |
| Raleigh, NC | 20 mi | $1,250 | $-267 (-18%) |
| Wake Forest, NC | 23.7 mi | $1,560 | +$43 (+3%) |
| Holly Springs, NC | 25.1 mi | $1,870 | +$353 (+23%) |
| Pittsboro, NC | 26.4 mi | $1,250 | $-267 (-18%) |
| Mebane, NC | 27.8 mi | $1,250 | $-267 (-18%) |
| Fuquay Varina, NC | 30.4 mi | $1,580 | +$63 (+4%) |
Studio rent in Durham — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Durham?
As of August 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Durham, North Carolina is $1,517 per month. This is +9% below the citywide median of $1,675.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Durham?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $60,680 ($5,057/month gross), which works out to roughly $29.17/hour at a full-time job.
Is Durham expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Durham's studio median of $1,517 is +18% above the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 66th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Durham rank for studio rent in North Carolina?
Among the 117 cities in North Carolina with studio data, Durham ranks #105 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Durham?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Morrisville ($1,332), Chapel Hill ($1,314), Hillsborough ($1,440).