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; nationally it ranks #220 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#220
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#3
most expensive of 46 in South Carolina (2BR)
+66%
vs the state average
$65,200
income to afford it (30% rule)

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. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $65,200/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

Observed renter burden: 48.8% of the 64,074 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.

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.

FMR filing desk

Area CHARLESTON·COUNTY·SC·SC

Charleston County, SC: $1,630/mo 1BR · #220 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA SC
  • 1BR-FMR $1,630
  • 2BR-FMR $1,787
  • RANK-UPPER #220
  • YOY-FLAT -0.9%
  • VSUS-HIGH +70%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +66% SC
  • INC-MID 23%
  • POP-MAJOR 410K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Greenville County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,467–$1,793
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Greenville ($409 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $928 · US avg: $893
$1,557/mo
↓ 1.6% YoY +68% vs state +74% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $982 · US avg: $959
$1,630/mo
↓ 0.9% YoY +66% vs state +70% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,155 · US avg: $1,175
$1,787/mo
↓ 1.8% YoY +55% vs state +52% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,450 · US avg: $1,525
$2,222/mo
↓ 1.5% YoY +53% vs state +46% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,699 · US avg: $1,756
$2,562/mo
↓ 3.4% YoY +51% vs state +46% vs US

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%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Charleston County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
22.2%
Affordable
Need $62,280/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
23.2%
Affordable
Need $65,200/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
25.4%
Affordable
Need $71,480/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
31.6%
Burdened
Need $88,880/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
36.5%
Burdened
Need $102,480/yr for 30% rule
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.

0%100%National avg22%25.4%
Charleston County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $84,320 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View South Carolina 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

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). This entry sits in this band. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

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

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).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $1,630/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using South Carolina BLS wages?

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
Salaries: BLS OES (South Carolina) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

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.

$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600$1,800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,630
Charleston County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
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
Total change (6yr): +57.5%
Annualized: +7.9%/yr
1 BR: $1,035 → $1,630

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).

Berkeley County
1 BR: $1,630/mo
Dorchester County
1 BR: $1,630/mo
Charleston County (this county)
1 BR: $1,630/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Charleston County, both outside South Carolina so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside SC (FY2026).

Naugatuck Valley Planning Region
CT · 2 BR $1,788/mo
Okaloosa County
FL · 2 BR $1,785/mo
Deschutes County
OR · 2 BR $1,784/mo
Cape May County
NJ · 2 BR $1,792/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside SC).

Treasure County
MT · 25.4% of income · 2 BR $1,548/mo
Pulaski County
IL · 25.4% of income · 2 BR $916/mo
Terry County
TX · 25.4% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Perry County
KY · 25.4% of income · 2 BR $959/mo

Nearby Counties in South Carolina

Largest counties by population in South Carolina

Showing the 8 largest of 45 other counties in South Carolina.

Greenville County
1 BR: $1,221/mo Pop: 528,251
Richland County
1 BR: $1,164/mo Pop: 416,161
Horry County
1 BR: $1,229/mo Pop: 356,578
Spartanburg County
1 BR: $1,083/mo Pop: 330,119
Lexington County
1 BR: $1,164/mo Pop: 295,934
York County
1 BR: $1,538/mo Pop: 282,987
Berkeley County
1 BR: $1,630/mo Pop: 231,419
Anderson County
1 BR: $1,035/mo Pop: 204,592
View all counties in South Carolina →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Charleston County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Charleston County is $1,630 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,787 and a studio is $1,557.
How does Charleston County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Charleston County is 70% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,630 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Charleston County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Charleston County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,787 ranks #220 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Charleston County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $65,200 ($5,433/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Charleston County.
Is rent going up or down in Charleston County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Charleston County decreased by 0.9% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,644 to $1,630.
Which jobs can afford rent in Charleston County? ▼
Based on South Carolina BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,630/mo. 4 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Charleston County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Charleston County went from $1,035 in FY 2020 to $1,630 in FY 2026, a total change of +57.5% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Charleston County? ▼
In Charleston County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,630/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Charleston County? ▼
For Charleston County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,630/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

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.