The growth of Charleston has exploded in recent years. If you’re looking to move to Charleston, SC, you should know that the real estate market is hot and space is limited-especially in the downtown area. This guide will help you understand what to know about renting in Charleston, SC before you sign a lease.
Anyone interested in moving to Charleston, South Carolina will likely fall in love with its beaches, food scene, and stunning landscape. Charleston is known for its deep history and is home to several proud and unique communities. It attracts millions of tourists every year, while still maintaining its smaller-town feel. There’s truly something for everyone to enjoy.
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Real Estate Market Overview
Renting offers flexibility that homeownership doesn’t. If this is your first time in Charleston, renting can be a great way to get a feel for more than one neighborhood if you’re planning on staying for a long time.
Regardless of where you land, there are some important details about moving to Charleston, SC you may want to keep in mind.
Housing Cost in Charleston, SC
Renting in Charleston, SC will cost you around the $1,900 mark on average but vary greatly based on location and unit size.
The peninsula, where central downtown Charleston is located, costs significantly more than some of the surrounding areas not technically within Charleston’s city limits.
James’ Island and West Ashley, located off the peninsula, but still within Charleston city limits are more affordable than downtown but are significantly more suburban.
John’s Island, which is further from downtown, is less expensive but is a decent drive away and less developed — it has less of a “city” feeling. The same is true about North Charleston.
Mount Pleasant (also not technically Charleston) is comparable in price to some locations in the downtown area and acts as the family/residential home of many professionals that drive to the peninsula for work.
However, within downtown, studio apartments are less expensive than larger spaces, and likely cost around the $1,000-$1,300 price range. They can be tricky to find though and are often quite small.
Two or three-bedroom apartments are more common (many historic homes have been converted to apartments) and are easy to divide among roommates. Multiple-bedroom units cost somewhere in the $1,500-$2,000 range.
Many young professionals moving to the area also opt to rent an entire house to help mitigate costs (especially as prices continue to rise!).
Neighborhoods in Charleston, SC
Charleston has many different housing types and neighborhood environments across the city. There’s certainly something for everyone. For the sake of this article, we’ll only discuss downtown since the adjacent communities have much more straightforward atmospheres.
Downtown Neighborhoods – On The Peninsula
Here’s the general breakdown of each Charleston neighborhood:
Ansonborough, South of Broad, and Gadsdenborough are more expensive, upscale neighborhoods: Ansonborough and Gadsdenborough are comfortable and residential, and South of Broad is incredibly touristy and insanely expensive.
The Eastside is a rapidly changing neighborhood and is relatively inexpensive for downtown but is full of college students and long-term locals. In comparison to the rest of downtown, the Eastside is usually regarded as little rougher-around-the edges.
Northcentral (including Wagener Terrace) is mostly residential and is slightly more affordable. This area is also close to parks and the interstate. A lot of post-college young adults and new families live in this area. There are some great restaurants and it’s slightly quieter.
Radcliffebourough is almost entirely devoted to college students from both College of Charleston and the Medical University of South Carolina. Unless you have the itch to relive your frat days, Radcliffebourough might not be for you. There are plenty of amazing coffee shops there, but almost all of the housing is occupied by students.
Pro-tip: If you’ve already done some looking into downtown, and you don’t think you can swing the cost–check out West Ashley and James’s Island. You won’t get the same “city” feeling living there, but downtown isn’t far and the rent is cheaper (especially with roommates).
Tips For Finding An Apartment
Make sure you have your budget well established before you begin looking at properties, and keep your “must-haves” and “would-like” list close.
You should also consider the cost of transportation and the potential for commuting. Charleston is largely car-dependent and has limited options for public transportation. Renting in Charleston, SC also comes with parking issues: Residents of the peninsula need a parking pass (they’re not expensive, but you can only have so many per building–and if you don’t get your pass, the parking tickets get expensive).
If downtown is outside of your price range, consider the possibility of roommates. If you don’t need to be downtown and don’t mind driving, perhaps one of the suburbs would suit your needs better.
Regardless of your price point, if you have the opportunity to visit Charleston before moving we’d highly recommend it. Renting in Charleston, SC can be tricky because there are a lot of hidden listings–there are a lot of people that only advertise rental properties with yard signs because they know how in-demand property is and would rather rent to someone they can get to know than a total stranger.
Don’t neglect Facebook and Craigslist either–there may also be options that you may otherwise miss. (Just make sure you’re diligent in getting to know any potential roommates before you sign a lease.)
Cost of Living in Charleston, SC
The estimated average monthly cost of living for a single person in Charleston, SC, excluding rent, is between $700-$1,000.
Utility costs are significantly higher than the national average (+18%) and are estimated to be in the $200 per month range. The price of internet and phone depend on your choice of provider and bundle, and as such aren’t included in that $700-$1,000 range.
However, besides utilities, Charleston ranks close to the national average on many other things like groceries, gas, clothing, and entertainment. You can check out this cost of living calculator if you’d like more specifics.
We’d recommend setting your expectations closer to the higher end of the budget especially if you’re just moving to Charleston. One of the perks of renting in Charleston, SC is that there are tons of amazing food, interesting entertainment, and drinking scenes to enjoy. If you don’t indulge right away you can hold on to that extra cash, but it never hurts to be prepared.
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Employment and Education
For those interested in moving to Charleston, SC for education opportunities, Charleston is home to one of the most beautiful, nationally recognized schools in the nation, College of Charleston.
Charleston is also home to one of the country’s leading medical schools, the Medical University of South Carolina, as well as a public military college, The Citadel.
Outside of university-level education, parents looking to rent in the Charleston area should also feel encouraged by Charleston education standards. Charleston County has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in South Carolina.
There are also amazing employment opportunities. Boeing Aircrafts moved to the area recently, the Medical University of South Carolina and Roper Saint Francis Healthcare are frequently looking for medical staff, and other major companies like Greystar and Blackbaud also have headquarters there.
Things To Do In Charleston, SC
Charleston has tons of amazing things to do, for tourists and residents alike. If you’re thinking about moving to Charleston, SC, here’s a brief list of the top things we’d recommend you see, do, and eat.
Things To See & Do
If this is your first time in Charleston, it doesn’t hurt to knock out the more stereotypically “tourist” things first. Others moving to the area are likely to check out the same things–you could meet new friends in the process or have something in common to chat about with locals.
We’d recommend taking your own walking tour to see some of the most popular and essential Charleston spots.
Here’s the route we’d recommend (from a Charleston native).
Self-Guided Walking Tour
Start at the intersection of King and Calhoun, there’s a park there called Marion Square. Grab a coffee, enjoy the weather, and listen to the church bells. From there, make your way down King Street– this is the main shopping street of downtown, so get your credit card ready.
Once you’ve made your way down King, take a left onto Market Street. This is where the famous Charleston City Market is. The market sells a lot of touristy items, but it’s a good spot to check out regardless.
Pro-tip: At some point, especially as you get closer to the market, you’ll probably meet one of the Rose Boys. They’re usually preteens or young teenagers that are trying to sell handmade sweetgrass roses. *They probably won’t tell you they’re trying to sell them though and can sometimes be a little aggressive in their advertising. You may want to avoid them.*
From Market Street, turn right onto East Bay Street. There are plenty of restaurants, including some famous in Charleston, where you can grab lunch. Continue on towards Waterfront Park where the famous Pineapple Fountain is.
After that, walk onto Broad Street where all of Charleston’s most grand and historic homes are located. The famous Rainbow Row is on the way, so grab some pictures on your walk.
End the journey at White Point Garden and drink the view of the harbor!
Pro-tip: You’ll miss Queen Street, another crazy beautiful, and famous street in Charleston, but you can come back another day. Alternatively, feel free to drift off the path. Charleston, SC is generally quite safe so you don’t need to stick to a path in order to have a great time.
Things To Eat
If you’re going to move to the southeast coast of South Carolina, you must eat seafood. Charleston is known for its local shrimping community, its Gullah-Geechee heritage, and its traditional Southern roots. You must try it all.
If you’re new to seafood, start easy with shrimp and grits. FIG in downtown Charleston is known for its innovative and award-winning chef. The restaurant combines Charleston’s Black history with its more English colonial side. The menu at FIG, including its shrimp and grits, are unlike any other.
If you’re a seafood veteran, Charleston is your place for oysters. If you live there long enough, you’ll inevitably be invited to a local’s oyster roast complete with plywood tables, piles of steaming oysters, and Charleston-brewed beers. Bowen’s Island just outside of downtown Charleston is a favorite spot for locals.
If seafood isn’t your thing, Charleston is also steeped in French history. Check out some of the local bakeries so you can enjoy a box of macaroons before catching a sunset.
Moving Companies in Charleston, SC
Before moving to Charleston, SC you may want to look into hiring a moving company that can make the transition more seamless. There are a number of high-quality companies in the Charleston area.
Finding one that suits your needs shouldn’t be too difficult. Make sure you check the reviews of whichever companies catch your eye or ask any friend’s in the area if they have recommendations. Happy moving!
Grace currently lives in Nashville, TN. She grew up in the Southeastern United States and graduated from College of Charleston, in Charleston, South Carolina. Her degree is in Political Science with a focus in International Relations, but she has a passion for all things communication and writing.
