
Cheap Apartments for Rent in the Downtown Charleston Neighborhood of Charleston, SC from $818 (65 Rentals)
Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in the Downtown Charleston area of Charleston.


Total Monthly Price
119 Smith St

Meeting Street Lofts

201 Spring St

Madison Station

23 Nassau St

655 East Bay

201 Spring St

The Porter

The Merchant
Charleston's Best Affordable Neighborhoods
Learn about Charleston and the best places to live with original content written by our Charleston, SC Local Expert Vicki Shivers

201 Spring St

Total Monthly Price
35 Folly Apartments

Element 29

201 Spring St

The Rumney

The Jasper

199 Spring St

154 Smith St

511 Meeting

3 Woolfe St, Unit B
Rent According to Income: A Look at Income-Restricted Rentals
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Total Monthly Price
Atlantic on Romney

333 King St

Cormac

14 Lockwood Dr, Unit 9 K

Foundry Point

Caroline

Total Monthly Price
19 Hampden Ct, Unit A

63 Reid St

Morrison Yard

Total Monthly Price
10 WestEdge
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LC Line & Low

6 Trapman St, Unit C

517 Rutledge Ave

38 Ashe St

235 King St

279 Coming St

Williams Terrace- Independant Senior Living

19 Hampden Ct

The Abbey

Hampton West
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Finding the right apartment starts with three things: location, cost, and amenities. Get the insider perspective from a real estate professional on how to nail all three.

Meeting Street Lofts - East Central

53 Cypress St

197 Spring St

201 Spring St

1000 King Street

1093 King St

75 Society St

145 Saint Philip St

995 King St

54 Poplar St
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Learn the official definition (spending 30% or more of your gross income on housing) and how to calculate your exact rent-to-income ratio. This guide offers expert tips on factoring in total housing costs (including utilities and fees) and budgeting accurately to avoid unnecessary financial strain.
Downtown Charleston, Charleston, SC Local Guide

How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Downtown Charleston?
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Charleston Studio Apartments | $2,293 | $1,085 | $4,548 |
| Downtown Charleston 1 Bedroom Apartments | $2,889 | $1,155 | $10,000+ |
| Downtown Charleston 2 Bedroom Apartments | $4,117 | $1,377 | $10,000+ |
| Downtown Charleston 3 Bedroom Apartments | $8,838 | $1,309 | $10,000+ |
| Downtown Charleston 4 Bedroom Apartments | $1,547 | $1,209 | $4,500 |
Browse Apartments in this Neighborhood
There are currently 65 rentals with your search options within a 2 mile radius of the Downtown Charleston Neighborhood of Charleston, SC.
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Downtown Charleston, Charleston, SC Local Guide
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Cheapest Available Downtown Charleston Apartments for Rent
 The cheapest available apartment rental in the Downtown Charleston area of Charleston, SC is a 2 Beds unit found at Yugo Charleston Campus priced from $1,499. Meeting Street Lofts has the second lowest priced unit, which is a Studio apartment currently listed from $1,523. Here are the most affordable Downtown Charleston apartments for rent in Charleston, SC:
| Apartment Listing | Model Name | Bed/Bath | Priced From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yugo Charleston Campus | 2 Bed, 1 Bath Classic | 2BR,1BA | $1,499 |
| Meeting Street Lofts | Roseman | Studio,1BA | $1,523 |
| The Merchant | Anson | Studio,1BA | $1,749 |
| The Rumney | 01A | 1BR,1BA | $1,849 |
| 511 Meeting | Studio C | Studio,1BA | $1,860 |
| Element 29 | A02 | Studio,1BA | $1,879 |
| Atlantic on Romney | S1 | Studio,1BA | $1,923 |
| Madison Station | A1 | 1BR,1BA | $1,999 |
| 35 Folly Apartments | 35F-4 | 1BR,1BA | $2,053 |
Best Value Apartments for Rent in Downtown Charleston, SC
As of September 07, 2026 the best value apartment in the Downtown Charleston area is the $2.13 price per square foot Manor Home Model at 655 East Bay in the in the North Central neighborhood starting from $5,499. The second greatest value Downtown Charleston apartment is the 159 Alexander St Model at 159 Alexander St, Unit 159 Alexander Apt. B starting at $4,500 with a $2.50 price per square foot in the North Central neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for Downtown Charleston apartments based on price per square foot:
| Apartment Listing | Model Name | Bed/Bath | Price Per Sq.Ft. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 655 East Bay | Manor Home | 3BR,2BA | $2.13 |
| 159 Alexander St, Unit 159 Alexander Apt. B | 159 Alexander St | 4BR,2BA | $2.50 |
| 16 Reid St | 16 Reid St | 3BR,1.5BA | $2.54 |
| 123 Coming St, Unit C | 123 Coming St | 3BR,1BA | $2.50 |
| Hoffler Place | D3 | 4BR,4BA | $1.41 |
| Caroline | B2 | 2BR,2BA | $2.84 |
| 19 Hampden Ct, Unit A | 19 Hampden Ct | 3BR,1BA | $2.25 |
| The Rumney | 01A | 1BR,1BA | $2.43 |
| 119 Smith St | 119 Smith St | 1BR,1BA | $2.31 |
| Yugo Charleston Campus | 2 Bed, 1 Bath Classic | 2BR,1BA | $2.54 |
Don't Settle: How to Negotiate Your Apartment Lease and Save Money
Discover the insider tips from an attorney and real estate agent on how to negotiate your next apartment lease. Find out what's on the table and what's not, so you can save money and get the best terms possible.
Read ArticleNavigating the Rental Market: Tips for First-Time Renters
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Read ArticleReal Estate and Rental Term Glossary | ApartmentHomeLiving.com Renter University
From the letter A all the way to the letter Z, the Real Estate and Rental Term Glossary from the content team at ApartmentHomeLiving.com provides our visitors and shoppers with a little clarity and helpful guidance in navigating the real estate world through definitions and explainers for the top subjects and terms that someone may come across during the leasing, buying, or selling process.
Read ArticleQuick Rent Budget Calculator
How much rent can you afford?
The common "Rule of Thumb" is that rent should be no more than 30% of your income. How much is that? Enter your monthly income and click "Calculate My Budget" to find out.
Best Local Schools in Downtown Charleston, Charleston, SC
James Simons Montessori School
School data provided by Great Schools
Lifestyle Ratings
This website is proud to bring you Lifestyle Ratings of rentals and neighborhoods across the USA, and customized analysis for Charleston, South Carolina. LifeStyle Ratings are a useful tool for comparing and sorting apartments and neighborhoods when choosing your rental home. This takes in many factors including filtering automatically for convenient access to the outdoors, luxury housing options, pet-friendly features, family-friendliness, proximity to transit, and how walkable or bikeable each community and area is. Use Lifestyle Search in the site filter options on this page - and find your Perfect place!
Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Downtown Charleston Apartments
What is the Cheapest Studio apartment in Downtown Charleston?
Currently the most affordable Cheap Studio Apartment in Downtown Charleston is at Meeting Street Lofts listed at $1,523.
How much is rent for a Cheap One Bedroom Downtown Charleston Apartment?
The lowest price for a Cheap One Bedroom Downtown Charleston Apartment is $1,696 at Meeting Street Lofts.
What is the lowest price for a Cheap Two Bedroom Downtown Charleston Apartment for rent?
Today's best deal for a Cheap Two Bedroom Apartment in Downtown Charleston is starting from $1,499 at Yugo Charleston Campus.
What is the most affordable Downtown Charleston Three Bedroom Apartment?
The best deal on a cheap Downtown Charleston Three Bedroom Apartment rental is at 655 East Bay and starts from $5,499.
Expert Rental Resources
The rental experts at ApartmentHomeLiving.com provide you with top advice, tools, and tips for understanding the leasing process and finding the perfect rental. Here are a few helpful rental and leasing articles from our experts to guide you on your search.
Articles, How-To's, and Tips

Top Student Friendly Neighborhoods to Rent Near Colleges in Charleston
Written by: Vicki Shivers
Hey, y’all, I'm Vicki, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Charleston, SC. I also happen to be a native Charlestonian who attended the College of Charleston back in the day.

Rent According to Income: A Look at Income-Restricted Rentals
Written by: Robin Stewart
The idea of affordable housing can be subjective. Every individual is in a different place financially and vocationally. What one may easily afford could be a struggle for someone else.

Exploring Rental Options: Apartments, Townhomes, and Lofts - Oh My!
Written by: Robin Stewart
Where do you see yourself? When you think of home, sweet home, are you in a 3/2 apartment? Dreaming of a tall townhome? Maybe an industrial loft heavy on cool vibes is on your visioning board.

Practical Tips for Renters: How to Identify a Great Rental and Avoid Red Flags
Written by: Robin Stewart
Renters want to find a great apartment, the right place for them, one that checks all the boxes of location, rental cost, amenities, safety, and more.