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Apartments for Rent in Charleston, SC
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Average rent in Charleston, SC

$1,947/mo Charleston, SC average rental price, October 2022
Image Average Rent

The average monthly rent of apartments in Charleston, SC is $1,947.

    Charleston, SC apartment rent ranges

    Charleston, SC rent trends

    Check out the average rent prices in Charleston by neighborhood.

    Compared to the national average rent of $1,727, the average rent in Charleston, SC is $1,947.

    Getting around in Charleston, SC

    2 /100
    Car-Dependent
    28 /100
    Somewhat Bikeable
    Walk Score®: 2, Bike Score®: 28

    Frequently asked questions

    When were prices and availability in Charleston, SC last updated?

    Prices and availability in Charleston, SC were last updated on 6 Feb 2023.

    What are the best apartments in Charleston, SC?

    The best apartments in Charleston, SC are: 511 Meeting, Wharf 7, The Standard, Abberly at West Ashley Apartment Homes and 1562 MULBERRY STREET.

    What is the average rent in Charleston, SC?

    The average rent in Charleston, SC is $1,947. Start your search for apartments in Charleston, SC now.

    What is the price range for a studio apartment in Charleston, SC?

    The price range for a studio apartment in Charleston, SC is between $1,495 and $9,864. View all studio apartments in Charleston, SC.

    What is the price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in Charleston, SC?

    The price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in Charleston, SC is between $665 and $11,601. Browse all available 1-bedroom apartments in Charleston, SC now.

    What is the price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in Charleston, SC?

    The price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in Charleston, SC is between $692 and $19,802. Browse and find a 2-bedroom apartment in Charleston, SC.

    What is the price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in Charleston, SC?

    The price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in Charleston, SC is between $880 and $7,137. Browse all available 3-bedroom apartments in Charleston, SC.

    What type of rental buildings are in Charleston, SC?

    In Charleston, 45% of the residents are renting compared to 55% owning a home, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Large-scale apartment buildings with more than 50 units represent 14% of Charleston’s rentals, 69% are small-scale complexes with under 50 units, and 15% are single-family rentals.

    What do typical apartment communities look like in Charleston, SC?

    The age and size of multifamily buildings are among the most visible characteristics of the rental market in a city.  In this case, the apartment buildings in Charleston are about 24 years old, on average. Of these, 61% have been built since 2000, representing the newer options on the market and typically offering more amenities. Rental buildings in the city have an average height of 4 stories. About 85% of the rental communities here are low-rise, garden-style communities, 14% are mid-rises, and 1% are high-rise buildings. These are true especially for large-scale multifamily buildings with over 50 apartments.

    What apartment floorplans are common in Charleston, SC?

    Rental apartments in Charleston come in a range of sizes and floorplans. Studio apartments represent 3% of units for rent, ideal for singles, renters on a budget and people who value central locations more than space. Rentals with 1-bedroom floorplans make up 40% of the total apartments in the city, while 2-bedroom floorplans represent around 47% of all rentals in Charleston. The rest are larger floorplans with 3 bedrooms or more, typically preferred by families, larger households or roommates sharing space.

    Charleston, SC in the news

    Renter's guide to Charleston, SC

    Charleston is a historic, coastal city located in the southeast corner of South Carolina. Founded in 1670, it is the oldest city in South Carolina and one of the oldest in the country. Current growth trends project Charleston to be the fastest growing municipality in the state.

    Charleston is the second largest city in the state behind Columbia. It is only 113 miles away from Columbia, 100 miles from Myrtle Beach, and 97 miles away from Hilton Head.

    Brimming with Southern charm and hospitality, Charleston is a popular travel destination and is well known for its well preserved architecture, rich history, beautiful beaches, and lively downtown atmosphere which includes some of the best restaurants in the entire country, including Husk. In 2014, for the 4th consecutive year, Charleston was named the number one tourist destination in the country by Conde Nast’s Traveler magazine!

    Charleston has a subtropical climate with moderate winters and hot, humid summers. The average high in the month of July is a whopping 91 degrees. The average low in January is 38 degrees. These numbers reflect the hottest and coldest months of the year. There is significant rainfall all year long. In the hottest summer months, afternoon thunderstorms are common. Snow only falls a handful of times a decade and is always a cause for excitement when it happens.

    Tips for renting in Charleston, SC

    Renters in Charleston should be aware of certain laws that pertain to the return of a security deposit. The South Carolina Landlord Tenant Act has provisions in place to protect the renter’s deposit. The deposit must be returned to the tenant by the landlord within 30 days of the move out date and any deductions must be itemized with invoices attached. This ensures the landlord does not deduct from the deposit for something like painting and exhaust the entire deposit without showing the tenant exactly how much the work cost.

    In a few rare circumstances, tenants in South Carolina can withhold rent due to a landlord’s failure to repair essential services such as heating. Tenants need to be very careful if they decide to withhold rent since only a few situations that compromise the habitability of a rental unit make withholding reasonable. Something like a broken dishwasher would not warrant withholding rent but for an essential service like broken plumbing, toilet, shower, etc. or heat, withholding rent can be justified.

    Things for renting

    Charleston, SC demographics

    Charleston, SC has a population of 137,041 according to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau. 72,748 of Charleston’s residents are women and 64,293 are men. The median age of those who live in Charleston, SC is 35.3.

    Living in Charleston, SC

    While the weather, impressive architecture, and natural beauty of Charleston draw many people, the incredibly humid summer and high cost of living may cause others to choose another place to live. The public transportation system is also not as complete as mass transit options in other cities.

    Charleston, SC households

    • 29,539 Family
      27,687 Non-family
    • 11,885 Children
      45,341 No Children
    • 57,226Total Number of Households
    • 2.29Average People Per Household
    • $72,071Median Household Income

    According to U.S. Census data, there are 57,226 households in Charleston, SC. 29,539 are family households and 27,687 are non-family households. There are 11,885 households with children in Charleston and 45,341 households without children. On average, about 2.29 people live in a household in Charleston, SC.

    Things to do in Charleston, SC

    There is no shortage of fun things to do in Charleston, many of which are completely free. Charleston is surrounded by beautiful beaches and many have free parking. Kiawah Island Beach, about 45 minutes outside Charleston was named the “second most romantic beach in America” by National Geographic Traveler magazine. Other beaches closer to Charleston are Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island beach, and Isle of Palms beach. All three of these gorgeous beaches are public and parking is free. Sullivan’s Island Beach is known as being the most natural of the beaches since high-rise complexes are not allowed on the island. It also has beautiful maritime forests between the beaches and the residential areas where wildlife flourishes.

    Charleston is also known for its shopping. King Street has a wide array of stores, ranging from an Apple Store to Louis Vuitton to Lily Pulitzer, and many more. For a great deal, Tanger Outlets in North Charleston is the place to visit.

    Things to do

    Charleston is also known for its shopping. King Street has a wide array of stores, ranging from an Apple Store to Louis Vuitton to Lily Pulitzer, and many more. For a great deal, Tanger Outlets in North Charleston is the place to visit.

    Another top draw is the City Market which is downtown on Market Street, Charleston’s number one most visited attraction. The open air market is full of individual vendors and artists selling their wares, including sweet grass basket makers - one of the oldest crafts of African origin in the US. The design varies from artist to artist. This centuries-old tradition is a must see in Charleston. A stroll through the City Market is free but of course hand crafts, art, and other goods will be priced.

    Looking for a place to relax and unwind with friends or family? Take a stroll down the Battery. The Battery is the name of Charleston’s historic waterfront where beautiful antebellum homes and shady oak trees mix perfectly with modern event spaces and incredible views. There is a park at the Battery with beautiful views of the Charleston Harbor, Fort Sumter, the Sullivan Island Lighthouse, and Castle Pinckney. Waterfront Park extends up East Bay Street and has a gorgeous fountain that many children play in on hot days. Walking through the Battery and parks is always free.

    Looking for a place to relax and unwind with friends or family? Take a stroll down the Battery. The Battery is the name of Charleston’s historic waterfront where beautiful antebellum homes and shady oak trees mix perfectly with modern event spaces and incredible views. There is a park at the Battery with beautiful views of the Charleston Harbor, Fort Sumter, the Sullivan Island Lighthouse, and Castle Pinckney. Waterfront Park extends up East Bay Street and has a gorgeous fountain that many children play in on hot days. Walking through the Battery and parks is always free.

    Charleston has an art gallery district as well as an art museum, The Gibbes. Many art galleries are found in the lovely French Quarter district and The Gibbes Art Museum is housed in the oldest museum building in the country on Meeting Street. The Gibbes presents six to eight rotating exhibits a year in addition to its impressive collection of art, which features pieces with an emphasis on Charleston and South Carolina history.

    Charleston is also home to the Charleston Riverdogs, a minor league baseball team affiliated with the New York Yankees. The Riverdogs have their own stadium downtown, Joseph P. Riley, Jr Park, named after the former mayor.

    Some top restaurants in downtown Charleston along with Husk are Magnolia’s, Fig, and High Cotton. These restaurants are located in the heart of the historic district and feature upscale cuisine. Hyman’s Seafood is another popular restaurant; it is located on Meeting Street and lines to get in often wrap around the block. This casual eatery attracts many tourists.

    Spoleto Festival USA is a two-week long celebration of the arts that happens annually in Charleston. The Spoleto Festival has been in Charleston since 1977 and features national and international artists. The shows include chamber music, operas, theatre productions, ballet and other forms of dance. Spoleto also hosts outdoor concerts and avant garde performances that can include multimedia. These performances takes place in the lovely old theatres and auditoriums in Charleston, such as the Dock Street Theatre.  The Spoleto Festival concludes with a finale at one of the most famous plantations in South Carolina, Middleton Plantation. While nearly all Spoleto events require tickets be purchased, the Finale is free and fun for the entire family. It also features a fireworks display!

    Things to do

    Charleston, SC employment & economy

    Charleston is home to a joint Air Force and Navy Base, called the Joint Base Charleston. Around 22,000 people are employed there making it by far the largest employer in Charleston. The Joint Base has double the employees of the Medical University of South Carolina or “MUSC” – the area’s second biggest employer. Also part of the public sector, The Charleston County School District is the area’s 3rd biggest employer.

    In the private sector, the largest employer is Boeing Aircraft, which recently opened a manufacturing center in North Charleston adjacent to the airport. Boeing employs 5,000 people in Charleston and many Charlestonians aspire to work there.

    Additionally, the city has a thriving hospitality and tourism industry. Since Charleston is a top tourist city, hotels, bed and breakfasts, and bars and restaurants employ many people in and around downtown.

    Education in Charleston, SC

    Charleston has three universities downtown: The College of Charleston, a liberal arts college, the Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, and Trident Technical College. The College of Charleston was founded in 1770 and is the oldest college in the South Carolina. The College has a top performing basketball team that frequently makes the NCAA championships and has about 10,000 undergraduates.

    The Citadel has around 2,250 students, called cadets, who pursue undergraduate degrees while living on campus. The Citadel also has a long history and was founded in 1842.

    The Charleston County School District, or CCSD, is the second largest district in South Carolina and consists of a blend of urban, suburban, and rural schools. The schools serve 49,000 students in 86 schools. The graduation rate in the CCSD is 83.8% and the district has over 3,400 teachers. 61% of the teachers in the Charleston County School District have advanced degrees.

    Charleston, SC education statistics

    The level of education of the population of Charleston, SC is as follows: 1% have no high school education, 21% completed some high school, 21% partially completed college, 7% have an Associate Degree, 33% have a Bachelor Degree, and 18% have a Graduate Degree.

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