How much does it cost to rent in Charleston, SC?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Charleston, SC is $2,245. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Charleston cheaper than other South Carolina cities?

Charleston is one of the pricier cities in South Carolina, ranking #4 out of 67 cities tracked at $2,245/mo.

When was Charleston rent data last updated?

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

City Report · SC

Charleston

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

Pop. 154,338·4th most expensive in South Carolina·Charleston rents are up 7.7% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,245/mo

Year-over-Year

+7.7%

Month-over-Month

+2.4%

vs US Median

+$280

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Charleston · $2,245

More expensive than 71% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

54/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Charleston's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$2,245/mo

Expected by trend

$2,285/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,844

1 BR

$1,919

2 BR

$2,123

3 BR

$2,630

4 BR+

$3,096

Research median

$2,123/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$26,940/yr

At $2,245/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 7.7% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+7.7% YoY, +2.4% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Charleston, SC is majority owner-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 58.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

154,338

Median income

$92,414

Median age

36.6

Renters

44.4%

Age distribution

17.3%

30.1%

24.7%

16.4%

Under 1817.3%

18–3430.1%

35–5424.7%

55–6411.4%

65+16.4%

Gender

47.7%

52.3%

Male47.7%

Female52.3%

Race & ethnicity

73.7%

15.8%

White73.7%

Black15.8%

Hispanic6.1%

Asian1.9%

Other2.5%

Education (25+)

15%

22.8%

58.3%

No HS diploma3.9%

HS diploma15%

Some college22.8%

Bachelor's+58.3%

Housing tenure

55.6%

44.4%

Owner55.6%

Renter44.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Charleston, SC has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,521 → $2,245

up 47.6%

Income

$76,556 → $92,414

up 20.7%

Population

147,928 → 154,338

up 4.3%

Renter share

44% → 44.4%

+0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

55.7% → 58.3%

+2.6 pts

Median age

35.5 → 36.6

+1.1 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in Charleston, SC has shifted from $1,521 to $2,245, up 47.6% since 2021. Census figures show median household income at $92,414 today, compared with $76,556 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Charleston, SC adding about 6,410 residents over the five-year window, up 4.3% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 55.7% to 58.3% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about Charleston

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View Charleston rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Charleston on your salary?

At $2,245/mo, how Charleston rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $83,142/yr · Rent = 32.4% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $59,030/yr · Rent = 45.6% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $67,998/yr · Rent = 39.6% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $121,537/yr · Rent = 22.2% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $155,294/yr · Rent = 17.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $55,273/yr · Rent = 48.7% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $49,905/yr · Rent = 54% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $61,512/yr · Rent = 43.8% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Charleston rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Charleston

About renting in Charleston, SC

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Charleston is $2,245/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,844/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,123/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,919/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,630/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($92,414/yr), Charleston ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Charleston an affordable city for renters?

Charleston is considered affordable for renters. At $2,245/mo, rent takes approximately 29% of the local median household income ($92,414/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Charleston falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Charleston?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $90,000/year (~$43/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,245/mo in Charleston. The local median household income is $92,414/yr, meaning the typical Charleston household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Charleston?

Rent in Charleston has increased 7.7% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Charleston neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Charleston are 29407 ($1,785/mo), 29414 ($1,884/mo), and 29492 ($2,164/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Charleston is $2,245/mo.

How does Charleston rent compare to other cities in South Carolina?

Charleston is one of the pricier cities in South Carolina for rent, ranking #4 out of 67 tracked cities at $2,245/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Charleston?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Charleston ($2,245/mo): Ladson ($1,697/mo), North Charleston ($1,738/mo), Hanahan ($1,781/mo).

What percentage of Charleston residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 44.4% of Charleston households are renters, while 55.6% are owner-occupied. Charleston leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Charleston rent compare to the national average?

Charleston's median rent of $2,245/mo is $280 (14%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within South Carolina, it ranks #4 out of 67 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

29%

AFFORDABLE

At $2,245/mo, rent takes ~29% of Charleston's median household income ($92,414/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Charleston 29%Benchmark 30%

State income tax3–6.2%

Run the Charleston affordability calculator →

Nearby cities