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Rental Market Trends in Chapel Hill, NC

What is the average rent in Chapel Hill, NC?

$1,499/month

Average Rent

742 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

-3.8%

Decrease in the Last Year

As of April 2026, the average rent in Chapel Hill, NC is $1,499 per month. For comparison, the national average rent price in the US is currently $1,641/month, which means Chapel Hill rent prices are 9% lower than the national average. When you rent an apartment in Chapel Hill, you can expect to pay about $1,522 per month for a studio, $1,499 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $1,780 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $2,571 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$1,522/month
592 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,499/month
742 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,780/month
1,068 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,571/month
1,431 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,821/month
805 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,362/month
1,266 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$3,297/month
1,937 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,587/month
781 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,760/month
1,031 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,853/month
1,471 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Chapel Hill, NC?

In the past year, rent has decreased by 3.8%, which averages out to $57 less per month.

Market Trends Over Time   The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated April 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Chapel Hill, NC
Last Updated April 2026
$1,501 - $2,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Chapel Hill, NC
Percentage*
Rent Range
2% Below $700/month
4% $700 - $1,000/month
33% $1,001 - $1,500/month
41% $1,501 - $2,000/month
20% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

Last Updated Today
  • Most Affordable
  • Most Expensive
  • Most Available

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Chapel Hill?

Based on current rent prices, Greater Chapel Hill, Briar Chapel and Gimghoul Historic District are the most affordable neighborhoods in Chapel Hill.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Greater Chapel Hill
$1,449/month
775 Sq Ft
Briar Chapel
$1,522/month
696 Sq Ft
Gimghoul Historic District
$1,629/month
585 Sq Ft
Farrington
$1,671/month
777 Sq Ft
Chapel Hill North
$1,674/month
786 Sq Ft
Estes
$1,721/month
686 Sq Ft
Carolina North
$1,724/month
701 Sq Ft
Northside
$1,742/month
551 Sq Ft
Meadowmont
$1,770/month
667 Sq Ft
Chapel Hill East
$1,772/month
772 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Chapel Hill?

Based on current rent prices, Cameron-McCauley, Downtown Chapel Hill and University Place are the most expensive neighborhoods in Chapel Hill.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Cameron-McCauley
$1,888/month
735 Sq Ft
Downtown Chapel Hill
$1,832/month
552 Sq Ft
University Place
$1,805/month
823 Sq Ft
Downing Creek
$1,801/month
874 Sq Ft
Chapel Hill East
$1,772/month
772 Sq Ft
Meadowmont
$1,770/month
667 Sq Ft
Northside
$1,742/month
551 Sq Ft
Carolina North
$1,724/month
701 Sq Ft
Estes
$1,721/month
686 Sq Ft
Chapel Hill North
$1,674/month
786 Sq Ft

Which Chapel Hill neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhoods in Chapel Hill with the most apartments available are Chapel Hill East, University Place and Estes .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Chapel Hill East
$1,772/month
772 Sq Ft
University Place
$1,805/month
823 Sq Ft
Estes
$1,721/month
686 Sq Ft
Carolina North
$1,724/month
701 Sq Ft
Greater Chapel Hill
$1,449/month
775 Sq Ft
Chapel Hill North
$1,674/month
786 Sq Ft
Farrington
$1,671/month
777 Sq Ft
Meadowmont
$1,770/month
667 Sq Ft
Northside
$1,742/month
551 Sq Ft
Downtown Chapel Hill
$1,832/month
552 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Chapel Hill, NC?

Because the average rent in Chapel Hill is $1,499, you’ll want to make about $4,996 per month or $59,952 per year. The general guideline is to pay no more than 30 percent of your monthly income on rent. However, you’ll want to consider additional factors, such as your monthly bills and other expenses. Use our rent affordability calculator to help determine how much to budget for rent.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Chapel Hill, NC is 6.5% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Chapel Hill is 19.7% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,499 - $2,571. You can expect to pay 0.7% more for groceries, 12.3% less for utilities, and 8.2% less for transportation.

City

Chapel Hill, NC

2,500 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

How does Chapel Hill, NC compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?

Use the tool below to compare Chapel Hill, NC to other nearby cities and neighborhoods. The Apartments.com neighborhood guides provide you with insight into the area’s transportation, things to do, and more.

Explore the Area Guide for Chapel Hill, NC

Apartment Averages

Greater Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC

Cameron-McCauley

Chapel Hill, NC

Studio
$959/month
-
One Bedroom
$1,179/month
-
Two Bedroom
$1,337/month
-
Three Bedroom
$1,740/month
-
Search
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Nearby City Rent Trends

  • Carrboro Average Rent
  • Durham Average Rent
  • Hillsborough Average Rent
  • Morrisville Average Rent

Apartment communities in Chapel Hill we think you'll love

The Reserve at Meadowmont Apartments and Townhomes

The Reserve at Meadowmont Apartments and Townhomes

100 Village Crossing Dr,
Chapel Hill, NC 27517

$1,642 - $6,900

1-3 Beds

Lenox at Patterson Place

Lenox at Patterson Place

100 Rose Garden Ln,
Durham, NC 27707

$1,062 - $2,307

Studio - 3 Beds

Solano at Chapel Hill

Solano at Chapel Hill

100 Saluda Ct,
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

$1,430 - $2,386

1-3 Beds

1701 North

1701 North

1701 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd,
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

$1,435 - $2,035

1-3 Beds

Property Management Companies in Chapel Hill, NC

Greystar
Greystar
  • 3,486

    Communities

  • 959,009

    Units

  • 891

    Cities

12 Communities in Chapel Hill
General Services Corporation
General Services Corporation
  • 70

    Communities

  • 23,308

    Units

  • 28

    Cities

9 Communities in Chapel Hill
Northwood Investors LLC
Northwood Investors LLC
  • 14

    Communities

  • 3,648

    Units

  • 8

    Cities

5 Communities in Chapel Hill
Bozzuto
Bozzuto
  • 386

    Communities

  • 118,848

    Units

  • 157

    Cities

3 Communities in Chapel Hill
Bryten Real Estate Partners
Bryten Real Estate Partners
  • 119

    Communities

  • 29,248

    Units

  • 68

    Cities

3 Communities in Chapel Hill
Grubb Properties
Grubb Properties
  • 19

    Communities

  • 5,047

    Units

  • 11

    Cities

3 Communities in Chapel Hill
Thalhimer
Thalhimer
  • 24

    Communities

  • 3,818

    Units

  • 13

    Cities

2 Communities in Chapel Hill
Willow Bridge
Willow Bridge
  • 716

    Communities

  • 197,852

    Units

  • 340

    Cities

1 Community in Chapel Hill

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United States North Carolina Chapel Hill Rental Trends

Methodology

† 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.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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Equal Housing Opportunity

© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity