Studio Apartment Rent in Shelby, NC
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Shelby, North Carolina as of August 2026. That's +37% lower than the citywide median of $1,110 and +46% below the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in Shelby
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 Shelby
Compare Shelby'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 (this page) | $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 | $1,517 |
| 14 | Mooresville | $1,510 |
| 15 | Arden | $1,500 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Most nearby cities have similar or higher studio rents than Shelby.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Shelby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaffney, SC | 12 mi | $740 | +$40 (+6%) |
| Kings Mountain, NC | 15.3 mi | $800 | +$100 (+14%) |
| Clover, SC | 27.7 mi | $1,490 | +$790 (+113%) |
| Lincolnton, NC | 29.1 mi | $980 | +$280 (+40%) |
| Boiling Springs, SC | 29.4 mi | $1,090 | +$390 (+56%) |
| Gastonia, NC | 29.7 mi | $1,257 | +$557 (+80%) |
| Spartanburg, SC | 29.9 mi | $1,052 | +$352 (+50%) |
| Dallas, NC | 30 mi | $1,010 | +$310 (+44%) |
| Inman, SC | 34.5 mi | $1,030 | +$330 (+47%) |
| Newton, NC | 37 mi | $890 | +$190 (+27%) |
| Hickory, NC | 37 mi | $870 | +$170 (+24%) |
| Morganton, NC | 37.4 mi | $1,290 | +$590 (+84%) |
Studio rent in Shelby — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Shelby?
As of August 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Shelby, North Carolina is $700 per month. This is +37% below the citywide median of $1,110.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Shelby?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $28,000 ($2,333/month gross), which works out to roughly $13.46/hour at a full-time job.
Is Shelby expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Shelby's studio median of $700 is +46% below the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 3th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Shelby rank for studio rent in North Carolina?
Among the 117 cities in North Carolina with studio data, Shelby ranks #3 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Shelby?
Most nearby cities have similar or higher studio rents than Shelby.