Rents are 6% below what North Charleston's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $1,742 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: August 17, 2026
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
North Charleston, SC is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 28.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How North Charleston, SC has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in North Charleston, SC paid around $1,190 a month. That figure now sits near $1,742, up 46.4% from the 2021 baseline. Median household income climbed from $52,264 to $62,956 between 2021 and 2024, a 20.5% shift. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show North Charleston, SC adding about 5,371 residents over the five-year window, up 4.7% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 26.6% to 28.6% across the same window. Taken together, the five-year picture in North Charleston, 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 North Charleston
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in North Charleston on your salary?
At $1,742/mo, how North Charleston rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
North Charleston rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in North Charleston. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in North Charleston
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in North Charleston is $1,742/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,433/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,648/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,488/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,040/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($62,956/yr), North Charleston ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is North Charleston an affordable city for renters?
How much income do you need to rent in North Charleston?
Is rent going up or down in North Charleston?
Which North Charleston neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does North Charleston rent compare to other cities in South Carolina?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than North Charleston?
What percentage of North Charleston residents rent vs. own?
How does North Charleston rent compare to the national average?
At $1,742/mo, rent takes ~33% of North Charleston's median household income ($62,956/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 North Charleston.
No discussions yet.
