Studio Rent · July 2026

Studio Apartment Rent in Sylva, NC

$970/mo

Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Sylva, North Carolina as of July 2026. That's +37% lower than the citywide median of $1,544 and +25% below the national studio median of $1,295.

Studio median
$970
July 2026
vs city overall
-37%
$1,544 city median
vs national
-25%
$1,295 US median
North Carolina rank
#42
of 118 cities

Income needed for a studio in Sylva

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.

Annual income
$38,800
Monthly gross
$3,233
Hourly (full-time)
$18.65

Rent by apartment size in Sylva

Compare Sylva's median rent across every apartment size.

Studio (current)
$970
1-Bedroom
$1,000
2-Bedroom
$1,120
3-Bedroom
$1,350
4+ Bedroom
$1,530

Cheapest cities for a studio in North Carolina

#CityStudio rent
1Waynesville$675
2Albemarle$690
3Shelby$700
4Lumberton$720
5Lenoir$730
6Henderson$760
7Lillington$770
8Marion$790
9Aberdeen$800
10Kings Mountain$800
11Raeford$810
12Graham$840
13Kinston$840
14Jacksonville$845
15Lexington$850

Most expensive cities for a studio in North Carolina

#CityStudio rent
1Harrisburg$2,380
2Holly Springs$1,870
3Waxhaw$1,860
4Apex$1,827
5Davidson$1,800
6Cornelius$1,770
7Chapel Hill$1,725
8Pineville$1,720
9Cary$1,685
10Mint Hill$1,650
11Fuquay Varina$1,580
12Raleigh$1,579
13Wake Forest$1,560
14Huntersville$1,521
15Knightdale$1,520

Nearby cities — studio rent

Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Sylva.

CityDistanceStudio rentvs Sylva
Waynesville, NC18.1 mi$675$-295 (-30%)
Brevard, NC33.2 mi$880$-90 (-9%)
Candler, NC36.4 mi$1,290+$320 (+33%)
Sevierville, TN42.7 mi$545$-425 (-44%)
Arden, NC44.4 mi$1,500+$530 (+55%)
Asheville, NC48.9 mi$1,466+$496 (+51%)
Seymour, TN49.4 mi$1,020+$50 (+5%)
Seneca, SC49.7 mi$840$-130 (-13%)
Central, SC51.5 mi$930$-40 (-4%)
Fletcher, NC53.5 mi$1,350+$380 (+39%)
Clemson, SC54.1 mi$1,100+$130 (+13%)
Weaverville, NC55.1 mi$1,290+$320 (+33%)

Studio rent in Sylva — common questions

How much is a studio apartment in Sylva?

As of July 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Sylva, North Carolina is $970 per month. This is +37% below the citywide median of $1,544.

What income do you need to afford a studio in Sylva?

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $38,800 ($3,233/month gross), which works out to roughly $18.65/hour at a full-time job.

Is Sylva expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?

Sylva's studio median of $970 is +25% below the national studio median of $1,295. It ranks in the 25th percentile of US cities tracked.

How does Sylva rank for studio rent in North Carolina?

Among the 118 cities in North Carolina with studio data, Sylva ranks #42 from cheapest to most expensive.

Are there cheaper studio options near Sylva?

Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Waynesville ($675), Brevard ($880), Sevierville ($545).

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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 Sylva, 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 (July 2026) and exclude cities with median rent below $400 or above $20,000.