The South Carolina rental market
South Carolina tracks median rent across 62 cities, ranging from Gaffney at $1,045/mo to Hilton Head Island at $2,630/mo. The state average of $1,684/mo runs about 13% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Across South Carolina cities, rents are rising, changing an average of +3.2% over the past year. 9 of 69 tracked cities are priced above the national median, while 60 fall below it. The largest rental markets are Charleston, Columbia, North Charleston.
What the numbers show
Rent fell in 6 of 62 South Carolina cities Zillow tracks over the year to September 2026, and rose in the rest.
22 cities are at the highest rent in at least three years of Zillow records. See the list.
Among cities with 15,000+ residents, Hilton Head Island ($2,630/mo) costs 2.4 times as much as Greenwood ($1,115/mo).
Across 22 South Carolina cities with five or more years of data, asking rents usually bottom out in January and peak in July, a typical swing of 1.6%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent grew faster than median household income in 17 of 17 South Carolina cities with both figures. See where the gap is widest.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for South Carolina cities, as of September 2026. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates).
South Carolina rent questions
What is the average rent in South Carolina?
The average median rent across 62 tracked cities in South Carolina is $1,684/mo, about 13% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Which South Carolina city has the highest rent?
Hilton Head Island has the highest median rent in South Carolina at $2,630/mo.
Which South Carolina city has the most affordable rent?
Gaffney is the most affordable tracked city in South Carolina, with a median rent of $1,045/mo.
Are rents rising or falling in South Carolina?
Across South Carolina cities, median rents are rising, changing an average of +3.2% over the past year.
How does South Carolina rent compare to the rest of the country?
9 of 69 tracked South Carolina cities have a median rent above the national median of $1,932/mo, and 60 fall below it.
What are the largest rental markets in South Carolina?
By population, the largest rental markets in South Carolina are Charleston, Columbia, North Charleston. Each has its own rent data, trends, and ZIP-level breakdowns on RentDataNow.