County FMR · HUD FY2026
Charleston County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Charleston County, SC - 70% above the US average.
- $1,630
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,787
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -0.9%
- YoY change
- +70%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Charleston is the 3rd most expensive of 46 counties in South Carolina by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #3
- most expensive of 46 in South Carolina (2BR)
- +66%
- vs the state average
- $65,200
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- -0.9%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (18%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (79.8%); only 4 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Charleston County, SC. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Charleston County, South Carolina at $1,630 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,787/mo and a studio is $1,557/mo. This is 70% higher than the national average of $959 and 66% above the South Carolina average of $982.
Rent decreased0.9% from FY 2025 ($1,644), roughly tracking inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $65,200/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in South Carolina. Population: 409,840. Population grew 5.1% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's in line with South Carolina's statewide growth of +5.2% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Charleston County
The Charleston County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and South Carolina's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Charleston County's 1-bedroom rent runs 70% above the US average of $959 and 66% higher than the South Carolina state average of $982. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$1,644 in FY 2025 to $1,630 in FY 2026 - a change of -0.9%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,630, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $65,200 per year (about $5,433/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,787 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 409,840 and a county median household income of $84,320, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,583 | $1,557 | $-26 (-1.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,644 | $1,630 | $-14 (-0.9%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,820 | $1,787 | $-33 (-1.8%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,255 | $2,222 | $-33 (-1.5%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,653 | $2,562 | $-91 (-3.4%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Charleston County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Charleston County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Charleston sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,787 Top 7% higher than 93% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Charleston compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other South Carolina counties
- Charleston
Charleston County
$1,630 1BR FMR / mo
- York
York County
$1,538 1BR FMR / mo
- Horry
Horry County
$1,229 1BR FMR / mo
- Greenville
Greenville County
$1,221 1BR FMR / mo
- Richland
Richland County
$1,164 1BR FMR / mo
- Lexington
Lexington County
$1,164 1BR FMR / mo
- Spartanburg
Spartanburg County
$1,083 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Charleston is highlighted. Nearby South Carolina counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Charleston County (this county) ($1,630), York County ($1,538), Horry County ($1,229), Greenville County ($1,221), Richland County ($1,164), Lexington County ($1,164), Spartanburg County ($1,083).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,630/mo compares to South Carolina salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | SC Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $108,690 | 18% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $99,340 | 19.7% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $79,900 | 24.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $73,180 | 26.7% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $59,370 | 32.9% | Stretched |
| Electricians | $58,260 | 33.6% | Stretched |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $58,020 | 33.7% | Stretched |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $51,810 | 37.8% | Stretched |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $48,640 | 40.2% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $38,960 | 50.2% | Unaffordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $37,940 | 51.6% | Unaffordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $29,560 | 66.2% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,450 | 66.4% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $26,830 | 72.9% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $24,510 | 79.8% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Charleston County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Charleston (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 57.5% overall, from $1,035 to $1,630. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.4% in FY 2025, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓0.9% | $1,557 | $1,630 | $1,787 |
| FY 2025 ↑15.4% | $1,583 | $1,644 | $1,820 |
| FY 2024 ↑4.9% | $1,386 | $1,424 | $1,599 |
| FY 2023 ↑12.7% | $1,328 | $1,357 | $1,533 |
| FY 2022 ↑13.7% | $1,183 | $1,204 | $1,372 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.3% | $1,000 | $1,059 | $1,207 |
| FY 2020 | $907 | $1,035 | $1,179 |
Part of the Charleston-North Charleston, SC Metro Area
Charleston County is a central county of the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.
Charleston County ranks #3 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Berkeley County ($1,630), Dorchester County ($1,630), Charleston County (this county) ($1,630).
Nearby Counties in South Carolina
Largest counties by population in South Carolina
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Charleston County? ▼
How does Charleston County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Charleston County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Charleston County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Charleston County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Charleston County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Charleston County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Charleston County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Charleston's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,630 implies about $65,200/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Charleston can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.