Studio Apartment Rent in Charleston, SC
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Charleston, South Carolina as of October 2026. That's +19% lower than the citywide median of $2,288 and +43% above the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in Charleston
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 Charleston
Compare Charleston's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in South Carolina
Most expensive cities for a studio in South Carolina
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Pleasant | $2,185 |
| 2 | Bluffton | $2,010 |
| 3 | Charleston (this page) | $1,844 |
| 4 | Hilton Head Island | $1,705 |
| 5 | Fort Mill | $1,620 |
| 6 | Ladson | $1,580 |
| 7 | Summerville | $1,517 |
| 8 | Beaufort | $1,517 |
| 9 | Goose Creek | $1,500 |
| 10 | Hanahan | $1,490 |
| 11 | Clover | $1,490 |
| 12 | Chapin | $1,470 |
| 13 | Simpsonville | $1,450 |
| 14 | North Charleston | $1,433 |
| 15 | Irmo | $1,420 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Charleston.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Charleston, SC | 10.2 mi | $1,433 | $-411 (-22%) |
| Hanahan, SC | 10.6 mi | $1,490 | $-354 (-19%) |
| Mount Pleasant, SC | 11.7 mi | $2,185 | +$341 (+18%) |
| Goose Creek, SC | 15 mi | $1,500 | $-344 (-19%) |
| Ladson, SC | 17 mi | $1,580 | $-264 (-14%) |
| Summerville, SC | 20 mi | $1,517 | $-327 (-18%) |
| Moncks Corner, SC | 26.3 mi | $1,280 | $-564 (-31%) |
| Beaufort, SC | 54.2 mi | $1,517 | $-327 (-18%) |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | 66.3 mi | $1,705 | $-139 (-8%) |
| Bluffton, SC | 70.5 mi | $2,010 | +$166 (+9%) |
| Pawleys Island, SC | 77.5 mi | $1,140 | $-704 (-38%) |
| Orangeburg, SC | 79.9 mi | $855 | $-989 (-54%) |
Studio rent in Charleston — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Charleston?
As of October 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Charleston, South Carolina is $1,844 per month. This is +19% below the citywide median of $2,288.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Charleston?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $73,760 ($6,147/month gross), which works out to roughly $35.46/hour at a full-time job.
Is Charleston expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Charleston's studio median of $1,844 is +43% above the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 82th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Charleston rank for studio rent in South Carolina?
Among the 62 cities in South Carolina with studio data, Charleston ranks #60 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Charleston?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include North Charleston ($1,433), Hanahan ($1,490), Goose Creek ($1,500).