Rents are right about where Hilton Head Island's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,630 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Hilton Head Island is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in June 2022.
Rent in Hilton Head Island changed +6.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 54 South Carolina cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.1%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($94,657) is $2,366 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,360); a 4-bedroom is $3,015.
Bluffton, 9 miles away, rents for 20% less ($2,096/mo), about $6,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Hilton Head Island. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Hilton Head Island, SC is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 56.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Hilton Head Island, SC has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Hilton Head Island, SC stood at $2,281 in 2023 and currently runs about $2,630, reflecting a 15.3% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $87,884 to $94,657 between 2021 and 2024, a 7.7% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 56.1% of adults here, versus 52.6% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Hilton Head Island, SC reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
Discussions about Hilton Head Island
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Hilton Head Island on your salary?
At $2,630/mo, how Hilton Head Island rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Hilton Head Island rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Hilton Head Island. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Hilton Head Island
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Hilton Head Island is $2,630/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,705/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,960/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,770/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,360/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($94,657/yr), Hilton Head Island ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Hilton Head Island?
Is rent going up or down in Hilton Head Island?
Which Hilton Head Island neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Hilton Head Island rent compare to other cities in South Carolina?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Hilton Head Island?
At $2,630/mo, rent takes ~33% of Hilton Head Island's median household income ($94,657/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Hilton Head Island.
No discussions yet.