Charleston, SC Rental Market Trends
What is the average rent in Charleston?
The average rent for an apartment in Charleston is $1,488, a 6% increase compared to the previous year. Read the full Rent Report to learn more details on how apartment rents compare to other locations in the area, and what are the most affordable or most expensive cities for renting around Charleston, SC.
Average Rent in Charleston, SC
| Average Rent | Y-o-Y Change | Average Apartment Size |
|---|---|---|
| $1,488 | 6% | 960 sq. ft. |
What is the average apartment size in Charleston?
The average size for a Charleston, SC apartment is 960 square feet, but this number varies greatly depending on unit type, with cheap and luxury alternatives for houses and apartments alike. Studio apartments are the smallest and most affordable, 1-bedroom apartments are closer to the average, while 2-bedroom apartments and 3-bedroom apartments offer a more generous square footage.
Charleston, SC Apartment Rent Ranges
- $701-$1,00012%
- $1,001-$1,50054%
- $1,501-$2,00023%
- > $2,00011%
Charleston, SC Occupied Housing Units
- Renter-occupied Households47%
- Owner-occupied Households52%
26,465 or 47% of the households in Charleston, SC are renter-occupied while 29,424 or 52% are owner-occupied.
Charleston, SC Rent Trends
| Average Rent | Nov / 2017 | Mar / 2018 | Jul / 2018 | Nov / 2018 | Mar / 2019 | Jul / 2019 | Nov / 2019 | Mar / 2020 | Jul / 2020 | Nov / 2020 | Mar / 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC | $1,256 | $1,276 | $1,312 | $1,315 | $1,307 | $1,364 | $1,375 | $1,378 | $1,387 | $1,432 | $1,488 |
| National | $1,315 | $1,346 | $1,355 | $1,359 | $1,356 | $1,391 | $1,398 | $1,400 | $1,390 | $1,395 | $1,407 |
Average Rent in Charleston, SC By Neighborhood
| Neighborhood | Average Rent |
|---|---|
| Downtown Charleston | $2,875 |
| Harleston Village | $2,875 |
| South of Broad | $2,875 |
| Mazyck - Wraggborough | $2,243 |
| Medical University of SC | $2,243 |
| Radcliffeborough | $2,243 |
| Cannonborough - Elliottborough | $2,141 |
| East Central Charleston | $2,141 |
| East Side Charleston | $2,141 |
| Gadsden Green | $2,141 |
| Hampton Park Terrace | $2,141 |
| Meeting St Manor - Cooper River Court | $2,141 |
| North Central Charleston | $2,141 |
| Wagener Terrace - Kiawah Homes | $2,141 |
| Westside Charleston | $2,141 |
| Silver Hill - Magnolia | $1,805 |
| Daniel Island | $1,582 |
| Bayfield Manor - Ashford Hall | $1,541 |
| Bayfront - Enclave | $1,541 |
| Bel Air - Quarterdeck | $1,541 |
| Belle Terre - Lighthouse Point | $1,541 |
| Centerville - Camp Road Estates | $1,541 |
| Charleston Country Club | $1,541 |
| Charleston County Park | $1,541 |
| Clarks Sound - Quail Run | $1,541 |
| Clearview | $1,541 |
| Cross Creek - Dogwood Park | $1,541 |
| Eastwood | $1,541 |
| Farmington - Jamestowne Village | $1,541 |
| Ferguson Village - Bishop Gadsden | $1,541 |
| Fort Johnson Estates - Parrot Creek | $1,541 |
| Green Crest - Westchester | $1,541 |
| Grimball - Signal Point | $1,541 |
| Harbor View | $1,541 |
| Harbor Woods - Bayview Farms | $1,541 |
| Laurel Park - Marlborough | $1,541 |
| Lawton - Whitehurst | $1,541 |
| Lockwood Hall - Dellwood | $1,541 |
| Lynwood - Willow Walk - Oakcrest | $1,541 |
| McCalls Corner - Lee Jackson Place | $1,541 |
| Oceanview - Oswald Place | $1,541 |
| Old Orchard - Stone Gate | $1,541 |
| Queensborough - Meridian Place | $1,541 |
| Riverland Woods - Dill Tract | $1,541 |
| Rivers Point | $1,541 |
| Riverview - Clarks Point - Battery Point | $1,541 |
| Seaside Plantation - Wexford Sound | $1,541 |
| Secessionville - Fort Lamar | $1,541 |
| Stiles Point | $1,541 |
| Stono Shores - Vardon's View | $1,541 |
| Whitehouse Plantation - Creek Point | $1,541 |
| Woodland Shores - Pecan Grove | $1,541 |
| Municipal Golf Course | $1,497 |
| Riverland - Wappoo Hall | $1,497 |
| Bolton's Landing | $1,279 |
| Marsh View | $1,279 |
| Northwest Charleston | $1,279 |
| Ashland Plantation - Canterbury Woods | $1,272 |
| Cherokee Hall - Sylvan Shores | $1,272 |
| Croghans Landing | $1,272 |
| Drayton Quarters - Magwood | $1,272 |
| Essex Farms - Carolina Bay | $1,272 |
| Forest Lakes - West Ashley Park | $1,272 |
| MacLaura Hall - Schieveling Plantation | $1,272 |
| Melrose - Shaftesbury | $1,272 |
| Mt Royall - Harrington Place | $1,272 |
| Pierpont | $1,272 |
| Shadowmoss - Village Green | $1,272 |
| Wappoo Creek - McLeod Plantation | $1,264 |
| Parkdale - Oakland | $1,217 |
| Savage Road - Citadel Mall | $1,217 |
| Isle De Nemours - Edgewater Park | $1,164 |
| Air Harbor - Geddes Hall | $1,139 |
| Ardmore - Sherwood Forest | $1,139 |
| Ashely Hall Plantation | $1,139 |
| Bymes Downs - Coburg | $1,139 |
| Carolina Terrace - Magnolia | $1,139 |
| Charles Towne Landing | $1,139 |
| Charlestowne Estates - Ashley Hall | $1,139 |
| Crescent - Albemarie Point | $1,139 |
| Dupont Area - Orleans | $1,139 |
| Heathwood - Lenevar | $1,139 |
| Hoff Gardens - Stono Park | $1,139 |
| Huntington Woods - Orange Grove | $1,139 |
| Indigo Point - Harrison | $1,139 |
| Maryville - Asleyville | $1,139 |
| Moreland - Avondale | $1,139 |
| Northbridge Terrace - Parkshore | $1,139 |
| Old Town Acres - Plantation Basin | $1,139 |
| Parkwood - Farmfield | $1,139 |
| Sandhurst - Governours Point | $1,139 |
| St. Andrews - Forest | $1,139 |
| Village Square - Pinecrest Gardens | $1,139 |
| Wappoo Heights - Windermere | $1,139 |
| Four Mile Hibernian | $1,118 |
| Rosemont | $1,118 |
What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Charleston?
The most affordable neighborhoods in Charleston are Four Mile Hibernian, where the average rent goes for $1,118/month, Rosemont, where renters pay $1,118/mo on average, and Air Harbor - Geddes Hall, where the average rent goes for $1,139/mo. If you’re looking for other great deals, check out the listings from Ardmore - Sherwood Forest ($1,139), Ashely Hall Plantation ($1,139), and Bymes Downs - Coburg ($1,139), where the asking prices are below the average Charleston rent of $1,488/mo.
What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Charleston?
The most expensive neighborhoods in Charleston are Downtown Charleston ($2,875), Harleston Village ($2,875) and South of Broad ($2,875).
What are the most popular neighborhoods in Charleston?
The most popular neighborhood in Charleston is Drayton Quarters - Magwood, where there are 4 verified RENTCafé listings with an average rent of $1,272. Next up is Village Square - Pinecrest Gardens, where apartments go for $1,139/month, followed by Bolton's Landing with $1,279 If you’re looking to rent in Charleston’s most popular neighborhoods, make sure to also check out Meeting St Manor - Cooper River Court, where renters pay $2,141 on average, and Ashely Hall Plantation, where the average monthly rent is $1,139.
Charleston | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood
Rent in Air Harbor - Geddes Hall is the same as in Ardmore - Sherwood Forest
Air Harbor - Geddes Hall rent is 23% lower than Charleston average
| Average Rent | $1,139 |
|---|
Ardmore - Sherwood Forest rent is 23% lower than Charleston average
| Average Rent | $1,139 |
|---|
How Charleston Compares to Other Cities
| Average Rent | Y-o-Y Change | |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $1,157 | 7% |
| Charleston | $1,488 | 6% |
| Summerville | $1,162 | 2% |
| Savannah | $1,172 | 5% |
| Greenville | $1,196 | 5% |
| North Charleston | $1,164 | 3% |
| Mount Pleasant | $1,516 | 4% |
| Fort Mill | $1,331 | 7% |
| Lexington | $1,140 | n/a |
| Beaufort | $1,215 | 3% |
| Pooler | $1,114 | 6% |