Cheap Apartments for Rent in the Downtown Neighborhood of Charleston, SC from $800 (34 Rentals)

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Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in the Downtown area of Charleston.

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119 Smith St, Unit 3
$1,500
Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$1,500

Total Monthly Price
$1,500
1 Bedroom Apartment Available Now

119 Smith St, Unit 3

119 Smith StCharleston, SC 29403
Affordability
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property at 6 Trapman St

$2,250

Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$2,250

Total Monthly Price
$2,250

1 Bedroom, 1 Bath Townhome for Rent

Available Now

6 Trapman St, Unit C

6 Trapman St
CharlestonSC29401

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

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The Guild
$2,376 - $9,535
Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$2,376 - $9,535

Total Monthly Price
Varies
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

The Guild

128 Columbus StCharleston, SC 29403
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property at 235 King St

$2,395 - $2,500

1 Bedroom Rentals

Available Now

235 King St

CharlestonSC29401
property at 350 King St

$2,500

Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$2,500

Total Monthly Price
$2,500

1 Bedroom, 1 Bath Condo for Rent

Available Now

350 King St, Unit 204

350 King St
CharlestonSC29401

Rent According to Income: A Look at Income-Restricted Rentals

Find income-restricted rentals and housing subsidies. Explore government programs designed to help low-income families secure stable, affordable housing.

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19 Hampden Ct
3 Bedroom Apartments

19 Hampden Ct

19 Hampden CtCharleston, SC 29403
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The Abbey
Studio to 3 Bedroom Apartments

The Abbey

2 Percy StCharleston, SC 29403
property at 75 Society St

$1,899 - $2,549

1 To 2 Bedroom Rentals

Available Now

75 Society St

CharlestonSC29401

Renters Insurance 101: What It Is, What It Covers, and Why You Need It

From theft to fire to water damage, the unexpected can happen to any renter. Discover why renters insurance is one of the smartest and most affordable investments you can make as a tenant.

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23L
2 to 4 Bedroom Apartments

23L

23-25 Line StCharleston, SC 29403
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279 Coming St
3 Bedroom Apartments

279 Coming St

279 Coming StCharleston, SC 29403
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73 Pitt St
2 to 3 Bedroom Apartments

73 Pitt St

73 Pitt StCharleston, SC 29403

How I Find the Perfect Rental for My Clients: A Real Estate Pro's Guide

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.

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The Baker House
1 Bedroom Apartments

The Baker House

55 Ashley AveCharleston, SC 29401
property at 100 Morris St

$2,500

2 Bedroom Rentals

Available Now

100 Morris St

CharlestonSC29403

Downtown, Charleston, SC Local Guide

Cheapest Available Downtown Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in the Downtown area of Charleston, SC is a 3 Beds unit found at 19 Hampden Ct priced from $1,099. Yugo Charleston Campus has the second lowest priced unit, which is a 2 Beds apartment currently listed from $1,499. Here are the most affordable Downtown apartments for rent in Charleston, SC:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
19 Hampden Ct3 Bedroom3BR,1BA$1,099
Yugo Charleston Campus2 Bed, 1 Bath Classic2BR,1BA$1,499
89 Fishburne St1 Bedroom1BR,1BA$2,050
Summit PlaceStudio - S2Studio,1BA$2,055
511 Meeting1D1BR,1BA$2,085
LC Line & LowSTUDIO TYPE AStudio,1BA$2,350
Laurel, A CollectiveS2.BStudio,1BA$2,446
The CharleighA1C1BR,1BA$2,577

Best Value Apartments for Rent in Downtown, SC

As of August 20, 2026 the best value apartment in the Downtown 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 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 apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
655 East BayManor Home3BR,2BA$2.13
159 Alexander St, Unit 159 Alexander Apt. B159 Alexander St4BR,2BA$2.50
19 Hampden Ct3 Bedroom3BR,1.5BA$0.85
16 Reid St16 Reid St3BR,1.5BA$2.54
123 Coming St, Unit C123 Coming St3BR,1BA$2.78
Hoffler PlaceD34BR,4BA$1.41
19 Hampden Ct, Unit A19 Hampden Ct3BR,1BA$2.46
511 Meeting1D1BR,1BA$2.88
119 Smith St, Unit 3119 Smith St1BR,1BA$2.31
Yugo Charleston Campus2 Bed, 1 Bath Classic2BR,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.

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Real 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.

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Quick 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.

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Pet Friendly Lifestyle
Downtown, Charleston, SC

Ranked #29

Among cities in South Carolina for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities.

Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score

3.5
Pet Friendly

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Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Downtown Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in Downtown?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Downtown is under $2,577.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in Downtown?

The cheapest apartment in Downtown is 89 Fishburne St which is listed at $2,050, while the average apartment in Downtown costs $3,875.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in Downtown?

Student, low-income, and by-the-bed apartments are typically the cheapest rentals in most cities, though they require qualifying criteria to rent. There are 19 regular apartments in Downtown that we think qualify as ‘cheap apartments’ that do not have special requirements to apply to rent.

How do the prices of cheap apartments compare to the average apartment in Downtown?

Cheap apartments in Downtown have an average cost of $522 which is $3,353 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in Downtown.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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First Apartment Regrets: Real Renters Share What They'd Do Differently

Written by: Robin Stewart

Hindsight is 20/20. Live and Learn. With age comes wisdom. We’re familiar with all those expressions, and all of them apply to lessons first-time renters learn.