Rental property in Charleston, SC
2026 Market Data & Investment Analysis
Gross Yield
5.1%
Annual rent / price
Median Home Price
$420,000
As of 2026-Q1
Median Monthly Rent
$1,800
Per month
Population
156,000
+1.8% / yr (5y avg)
Estimates based on median market data. Actual returns depend on your specific property. Source: Redfin / Zillow / U.S. Census Bureau, 2026-Q1.
Calculate your rental yield in Charleston
Pre-filled with Charleston's median values. Adjust to match your specific property.
Property Details
Total acquisition cost before taxes
HOA, insurance, property management
% of time the property is empty
% of purchase price (e.g. 2% = 2)
Rule of thumb: 1% of purchase price/yr
Results
Gross Rental Yield
5.14%
Net Rental Yield
3.31%
Cap Rate
3.31%
Monthly Cash Flow
$1,160.00
Annual Cash Flow
$13,920.00
Charleston rental market at a glance
Median Home Price — 5-Year Trend
Median Monthly Rent — 5-Year Trend
Charleston provides solid rental yields of 5.1%, in line with healthy investment market benchmarks.
Strong population growth of 1.8% per year suggests increasing rental demand and a tightening supply-demand balance over time.
The vacancy rate of 5% is healthy, indicating strong rental demand and limited downtime between tenants.
What type of investment market is Charleston?
Charleston features strong population growth that may drive property values higher over time. Current rental yields are modest, so returns are more dependent on price appreciation than immediate rental income.
✓ Strengths
- •Population growth of 1.8% per year supports long-term demand
- •Appreciation potential may deliver strong total returns over time
- •Robust rental demand from growing workforce and population
! Risks
- •Gross yield of 5.1% provides limited current cash flow
- •Higher purchase prices require larger upfront capital
- •Returns more sensitive to market cycles and interest rates
Key Metrics
How does Charleston compare to nearby cities?
Charleston vs Savannah: 0.9 percentage point difference in gross yield.
| City | Median Price | Median Rent | Gross Yield | Pop. Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah, GA | $280,000 | $1,400 | 6% | +1% |
| Charlotte, NC | $370,000 | $1,700 | 5.5% | +1.4% |
| Raleigh, NC | $390,000 | $1,750 | 5.4% | +2.1% |
| Atlanta, GA | $350,000 | $1,750 | 6% | +1.6% |
| Richmond, VA | $310,000 | $1,550 | 6% | +0.7% |
Common questions about investing in Charleston
Is rental investing profitable in Charleston?▾
What is the average rental yield in Charleston?▾
How does Charleston compare to Savannah for investors?▾
Explore more cities in United States
Compare yield, price, and population growth across all cities
Ready to Analyse a Specific Property in Charleston?
Use our free rental yield calculator to model any property — not just the median.
Compare with nearby cities: