Last updated
Average Rent in Charleston, SC & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 17 apartment communities in Charleston, SC. Updated daily.
Market Average
$2,330/mo
▼ 9.2% from last month
Lowest Available
$1,643/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
17
tracked daily
Units Listed
110
available now
Price Cuts This Week in Charleston, SC
74 listed units across 11 buildings offering 1 bed units in Charleston, SC dropped their asking rent in the past 7 days, an average cut of $96/mo. These are the largest cuts, tracked unit by unit with daily price checks.
| Apartment | Unit | Last Week | Now | Cut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meeting Street Lofts | Unit 13 | $2,770 | $2,141 | $629 |
| Meeting Street Lofts | Unit 16 | $2,814 | $2,194 | $620 |
| Meeting Street Lofts | Unit 7 | $2,270 | $1,650 | $620 |
| Meeting Street Lofts | Unit 12 | $2,242 | $1,899 | $343 |
| Meeting Street Lofts | Unit 17 | $2,194 | $1,999 | $195 |
| Meeting Street Lofts | Unit 11 | $2,039 | $1,859 | $180 |
| Overlook Point | Unit 4-4102, Folly | $3,019 | $2,869 | $150 |
| Overlook Point | Unit 4-4314, Folly | $2,989 | $2,839 | $150 |
Rent by Neighborhood in Charleston, SC
Compare average rent across Charleston, SC neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends. View these neighborhoods on the rent map
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent | 30d Change | From | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cainhoy | $2,986 | ▲ $207 | $1,751 | 2 | 67 |
| NOMO | $2,640 | ▼ $74 | $1,235 | 12 | 147 |
| Mt Pleasant 29464 | $2,405 | ▲ $54 | $1,746 | 2 | 29 |
| Charleston 29412 | $2,257 | ▼ $27 | $1,963 | 2 | 18 |
| Charleston 29414 | $1,843 | ▼ $49 | $1,643 | 1 | 15 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Charleston, SC?
As of August 2026, the average rent in Charleston, SC is $2,330 per month across 17 apartment communities and 110 available units. Rents have decreased $241 (9.2%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is MAA Cypress Cove starting at $1,643/mo. By unit type, a 1-bedroom averages $2,330/mo.
Prices range from $1,643 to $3,890 per month. The most common price point is the $2,600 range, where 25 units are currently listed.
Charleston, SC Rent Price History
View as table
| Month | Avg Rent | Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | $2,486 | - | 13 |
| June 2026 | $2,554 | +$68 | 14 |
| July 2026 | $2,544 | -$10 | 17 |
| August 2026 | $2,520 | -$24 | 17 |
The trend line and monthly averages track each building's average listed price, recorded daily with outliers trimmed. The current month is a month-to-date figure, so it can sit above or below today's live market average shown at the top of this page.
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Charleston, SC
Rent Prices by Apartment in Charleston, SC
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAA Cypress Cove | $1,643/mo | $1,660/mo | 6 | 4.2 |
| Meeting Street Lofts | $1,650/mo | $2,063/mo | 9 | 3.9 |
| Overlook Point | $1,751/mo | $1,806/mo | 5 | 4.6 |
| The Porter | $1,910/mo | $2,064/mo | 4 | 4.6 |
| The Boulevard Apartments | $1,957/mo | $1,998/mo | 2 | 4.2 |
| MAA James Island | $1,963/mo | $2,098/mo | 6 | 4.5 |
| Element 29 | $2,011/mo | $2,039/mo | 5 | 2.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Charleston, SC
What is the average rent in Charleston, SC?
Is rent going up or down in Charleston, SC?
What is the cheapest apartment in Charleston, SC?
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Charleston, SC?
How many apartments are available in Charleston, SC?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Charleston, SC?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$93,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $2,330/mo.
Comfortable income
$112,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,643/mo), you need to earn at least $66,000/year.
Median household income in Charleston, SC is $90,038 , about 19% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Charleston, SC
Overall prices in Charleston, SC runs above the national average by about 1% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 101.1, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Charleston, SC's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $2,330 |
| Utilities | $530 |
| Groceries | $518 |
| Transportation | $1,264 |
| Healthcare | $617 |
| Other goods and services | $987 |
| Estimated total | $6,247/mo |
Population
152,014
Median household income
$90,038
Census median rent
$1,632/mo
Rent as % of income
31.4%
Median age
36.1
Mean commute
24 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Google Search Trends for Charleston, SC Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Explore Charleston, SC Apartments
Browse all 17 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.