North Carolina rent guide
Average Rent in North Carolina by City (June 2026)
Data as of Jun 9, 2026 · 873 rentals across 42 North Carolina cities
A one-bedroom in North Carolina rents for about $1,247 a month right now, the median across the 590 one-beds we’re tracking, so half go for less and half for more. We use the median on purpose: a few new luxury towers in uptown Charlotte or on the coast pull the “average” up and tell you nothing about a normal lease. That keeps North Carolina firmly in the affordable half of the Sun Belt, near Georgia and Texas.
Studio
$1,298
typical / mo
1 bed
$1,247
typical / mo
2 bed
$1,307
typical / mo
3 bed
$1,999
typical / mo
Two things stand out. A studio in North Carolina actually costs more than a one-bedroom (about $1,298 vs $1,247), since studios skew toward pricey new downtown builds, so there is almost no reason to take one over a real one-bed. And going from a one-bed to a two-bed runs just about $60 more a month, one of the smallest jumps we see anywhere, so if a roommate is even a possibility, a two-bedroom is the move.
Typical rent by city, lowest first
Sorted by each city’s overall median, so the most affordable markets are up top. Find yours, then check the one-bed and two-bed columns for the size you’re actually after.
| # | City | Typical | 1 bed | 2 bed | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenville | $1,032 | $945 | $1,113 | 29 |
| 2 | High Point | $1,085 | $1,085 | - | 9 |
| 3 | Fayetteville | $1,099 | $1,005 | $1,205 | 43 |
| 4 | Burlington | $1,099 | $1,155 | - | 11 |
| 5 | Winston-Salem | $1,111 | $1,004 | $1,147 | 28 |
| 6 | New Bern | $1,115 | $1,154 | - | 7 |
| 7 | Gastonia | $1,192 | $1,175 | - | 10 |
| 8 | Jacksonville | $1,210 | $1,210 | - | 6 |
| 9 | Greensboro | $1,219 | $1,258 | $1,063 | 49 |
| 10 | Durham | $1,234 | $1,205 | $1,238 | 48 |
| 11 | Mooresville | $1,234 | $1,234 | - | 16 |
| 12 | Raleigh | $1,238 | $1,193 | $1,290 | 125 |
| 13 | Garner | $1,240 | $1,240 | - | 5 |
| 14 | Wake Forest | $1,274 | $1,274 | - | 13 |
| 15 | Kernersville | $1,275 | $1,058 | - | 7 |
| 16 | Monroe | $1,283 | - | - | 5 |
| 17 | Fuquay-Varina | $1,299 | $1,299 | - | 6 |
| 18 | Cary | $1,314 | $1,215 | $1,585 | 31 |
| 19 | Apex | $1,315 | $1,313 | - | 9 |
| 20 | Matthews | $1,320 | $1,317 | - | 7 |
| 21 | Charlotte | $1,326 | $1,300 | $2,044 | 200 |
| 22 | Kannapolis | $1,326 | $1,402 | - | 6 |
| 23 | Morrisville | $1,328 | $1,274 | $1,517 | 20 |
| 24 | Huntersville | $1,334 | $1,344 | - | 14 |
| 25 | Cornelius | $1,334 | $1,334 | - | 7 |
| 26 | Concord | $1,335 | $1,228 | $1,636 | 20 |
| 27 | Hickory | $1,335 | $1,217 | $1,619 | 11 |
| 28 | Chapel Hill | $1,362 | $1,324 | $1,750 | 16 |
| 29 | Clayton | $1,394 | $1,346 | - | 8 |
| 30 | Wilmington | $1,400 | $1,373 | $1,560 | 43 |
| 31 | Asheville | $1,401 | $1,371 | $1,485 | 31 |
How to read these numbers
“Typical” is the median across every unit we track in that city. The per-bedroom columns are the median for that floor plan, shown only once a city has at least three listed, so one odd unit doesn’t throw it off. We include cities with five or more live listings and leave out single rooms and senior housing. Everything refreshes when our listing data does (last updated Jun 9, 2026).
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in North Carolina?
The median one-bedroom is about $1,247/mo right now; studios run ~$1,298, two-beds ~$1,307, and three-beds ~$1,999. We use the median, not the mean, so a few luxury towers in Charlotte or on the coast don't skew it. North Carolina is one of the cheaper Sun Belt states, in the same range as Georgia and Texas and well under California.
Is a studio cheaper than a 1-bedroom in North Carolina?
No, it's the opposite. The median studio (~$1,298) actually runs ABOVE the median one-bedroom (~$1,247) here, because studios cluster in pricey newer downtown buildings while one-beds spread across the whole market. Unless you specifically want the smaller footprint, the one-bedroom is the clear pick.
How much more is a 2-bedroom than a 1-bedroom in North Carolina?
Only about $60/mo more statewide, one of the smallest gaps anywhere we track. If splitting with a roommate is even a possibility, a two-bedroom beats renting a one-bed alone on a per-person basis by a wide margin here.
More rent guides
North Carolina · Rankings
The Cheapest Cities to Rent in North Carolina
Every North Carolina city ranked by entry and median rent, from value markets like Greenville and the Triad to the pricier mountains and coast.
California · Rent data
Average Rent in California by City
What renters actually pay: median rent in every city we track, broken down by bedroom, studio through three-bed.
Texas · Rent data
Average Rent in Texas by City
What renters actually pay in Texas: median rent in every city we track, by bedroom. Plus why a studio there can cost more than a one-bed.
Florida · Rent data
Average Rent in Florida by City
What renters actually pay in Florida: median rent in every city we track, by bedroom, from real listings, not estimates.
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