Known as the Queen City, Charlotte is North Carolina’s busiest city with over 850,000 residents. Tagged as “Charlotte’s got a lot” by the community, this bustling urban oasis offers diversity, cultural experiences, and endless adventures. Enjoy live performances, community events, local cuisine, and a vibrant nightlife scene. Charlotte offers easy access to major interstates, a public transit line, and proximity to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
The city of Charlotte has earned its spot on “Best Places to Live” lists for its seemingly endless entertainment options. Catch a live concert at the Fillmore Charlotte, explore the NASCAR Hall of Fame, catch a game at NBA’s Spectrum Theater, explore Discovery Place Science, or ride the rollercoasters at Carowinds. Locals frequent Uptown Charlotte for its local attractions, nightlife spots, and abundant shopping. Uptown is surrounded by a top-notch selection of local breweries, from Sugar Creek Brewing Company to the Olde Mecklenburg Brewery.
Charlotte is a major economic hub that houses numerous corporate headquarters, including nine Fortune 500 companies. Beyond the high-rises of the central business district and lively entertainment venues, Charlotte’s landscape features a mix of picturesque homes, historic buildings, luxury apartments, and lush greenery.
Charlotte's city skyline
The NASCAR Hall of Fame is a popular destination for race fans
The Carowinds Intimidator is one of the country's tallest steel roller coasters
The Duke Energy Center is one of the nation's tallest buildings
The Lynx Blue Line light rail system makes it easy to get around in Charlotte
An artistic sign points to other destinations sharing Charlotte’s name
As of February 2026, the average apartment rent in Charlotte, NC is $1,380 for a studio, $1,468 for one bedroom, $1,756 for two bedrooms, and $2,155 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Charlotte has decreased by -2.0% in the past year.
The cost of living in Charlotte, NC is 1.1% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Charlotte is 0.7% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,380 - $2,157. You can expect to pay 2.1% more for groceries, 6.3% less for utilities, and 0.4% more for transportation.
Looking for the best neighborhoods to rent a house in Charlotte? We've got you covered. Find the perfect neighborhood to rent a house in the Queen City.
Get the most for your money when you discover the most affordable neighborhoods in Charlotte, NC with this detailed guide.
Thinking about moving to Charlotte? Here are some pros and cons of living in Queen City to help you decide.
Don’t know where to start your Charlotte rental search? Here are five Charlotte neighborhoods perfect for renters.
Car-Dependent
out of 100 WalkScore® Rating
This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.
Some Transit
out of 100 TransitScore® Rating
You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.
Somewhat Bikeable
out of 100 BikeScore® Rating
You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.
Public
Grades K-5
737 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
713 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
689 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
665 Students
Public
Grades K-5
558 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,412 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,305 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
808 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
602 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,144 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
3,529 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,048 Students
Public
Grades 11-12
201 Students
Public
Grades 11-12
171 Students
Charlotte Engineering Early College-UNCC
Public
Grades 9-12
300 Students
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
