Studio Rent · October 2026

Studio Apartment Rent in Sylva, NC

$970/mo

Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Sylva, North Carolina as of October 2026. That's +24% lower than the citywide median of $1,275 and +25% below the national studio median of $1,290.

Studio median
$970
October 2026
vs city overall
-24%
$1,275 city median
vs national
-25%
$1,290 US median
North Carolina rank
#43
of 120 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
4Henderson$760
5Lillington$770
6Marion$790
7Aberdeen$800
8Kings Mountain$800
9Mount Airy$810
10Raeford$810
11Beaufort$820
12Graham$840
13Kinston$840
14Washington$840
15Jacksonville$845

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
7Cary$1,685
8Mint Hill$1,650
9Fuquay Varina$1,580
10Wake Forest$1,560
11Carrboro$1,545
12Huntersville$1,531
13Knightdale$1,520
14Durham$1,517
15Mooresville$1,510

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%)
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%)
Jefferson City, TN54.5 mi$810$-160 (-16%)
Weaverville, NC55.1 mi$1,290+$320 (+33%)

Studio rent in Sylva — common questions

How much is a studio apartment in Sylva?

As of October 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Sylva, North Carolina is $970 per month. This is +24% below the citywide median of $1,275.

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 $1,290. It ranks in the 24th percentile of US cities tracked.

How does Sylva rank for studio rent in North Carolina?

Among the 120 cities in North Carolina with studio data, Sylva ranks #43 from cheapest to most expensive.

Are there cheaper studio options near Sylva?

Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Waynesville ($675), Sevierville ($545), Seneca ($840).

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