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Rental Market Trends in Wilmington, NC

What is the average rent in Wilmington, NC?

$1,384/month

Average Rent

726 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+2%

Increase in the Last Year

Wilmington, NC Rental Market Overview

The average rent in Wilmington, NC is $1,384 per month. This is 16% lower than the national average rent of $1,644/month, making renting in Wilmington more affordable than most cities in the US.

  • Studio apartments in Wilmington average $1,251 per month.
  • One-bedroom apartments in Wilmington average $1,384 per month.
  • Two-bedroom apartments in Wilmington average $1,655 per month.
  • Three-bedroom apartments in Wilmington average $1,998 or more per month.

Data Updated: June, 2026

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$1,251/month
534 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,384/month
726 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,655/month
1,062 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,998/month
1,320 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,668/month
617 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,323/month
1,189 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$2,927/month
1,644 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,732/month
593 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,660/month
761 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,044/month
988 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,787/month
828 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,212/month
1,448 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Wilmington, NC?

In the past year, rent has increased by 2%, which averages out to $29 more per month.

Market Trends Over Time   The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated June 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Wilmington, NC
Last Updated June 2026
$1,001 - $1,500
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Wilmington, NC
Percentage*
Rent Range
1% Below $700/month
4% $700 - $1,000/month
44% $1,001 - $1,500/month
42% $1,501 - $2,000/month
9% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

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

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Wilmington?

Based on current rent prices, College Acres, Northchase and Ogden are the most affordable neighborhoods in Wilmington.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
College Acres
$1,399/month
654 Sq Ft
Northchase
$1,405/month
767 Sq Ft
Ogden
$1,433/month
744 Sq Ft
Murraysville
$1,438/month
746 Sq Ft
River Pointe-Masonboro Commons
$1,522/month
703 Sq Ft
Kings Grant
$1,527/month
742 Sq Ft
Cape Fear Country Club
$1,531/month
685 Sq Ft
Bayshore
$1,546/month
774 Sq Ft
Lincoln Forest
$1,547/month
590 Sq Ft
Kirkland
$1,557/month
777 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Wilmington?

Based on current rent prices, Downtown Wilmington, Landfall and Shipyard Plaza are the most expensive neighborhoods in Wilmington.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown Wilmington
$1,849/month
785 Sq Ft
Landfall
$1,821/month
788 Sq Ft
Shipyard Plaza
$1,792/month
818 Sq Ft
Masonboro
$1,787/month
762 Sq Ft
Silver Lake
$1,729/month
787 Sq Ft
Echo Farms
$1,714/month
801 Sq Ft
South Side
$1,700/month
711 Sq Ft
Carolina Heights
$1,660/month
767 Sq Ft
Pine Valley West
$1,633/month
778 Sq Ft
Windemere
$1,573/month
753 Sq Ft

Which Wilmington neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhoods in Wilmington with the most apartments available are Echo Farms, Silver Lake and Shipyard Plaza .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Echo Farms
$1,714/month
801 Sq Ft
Silver Lake
$1,729/month
787 Sq Ft
Shipyard Plaza
$1,792/month
818 Sq Ft
Cape Fear Country Club
$1,531/month
685 Sq Ft
College Acres
$1,399/month
654 Sq Ft
Murraysville
$1,438/month
746 Sq Ft
Downtown Wilmington
$1,849/month
785 Sq Ft
Kings Grant
$1,527/month
742 Sq Ft
Northchase
$1,405/month
767 Sq Ft
South Side
$1,700/month
711 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

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

Because the average rent in Wilmington is $1,384, you’ll want to make about $4,613 per month or $55,356 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 Wilmington, NC is 5.1% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Wilmington is 21.4% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,251 - $1,998. You can expect to pay 1.9% less for groceries, 3.9% more for utilities, and 5.3% more for transportation.

City

Wilmington, NC

3,686 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

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

Use the tool below to compare Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC

Apartment Averages

College Acres

Wilmington, NC

Downtown Wilmington

Wilmington, NC

Studio
-
$1,442/month
One Bedroom
$1,402/month
$1,614/month
Two Bedroom
$1,768/month
$2,250/month
Three Bedroom
$2,240/month
$3,673/month
Search
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Apartment communities in Wilmington we think you'll love

The Pines of Wilmington Apartments

The Pines of Wilmington Apartments

1002 Mayflower Dr,
Wilmington, NC 28412

$1,025 - $1,450

1-3 Beds

The Nixon

The Nixon

7015 Ruth Ave,
Wilmington, NC 28411

$1,619 - $2,179 Total Monthly Price

1-3 Beds

Oasis at Riverlights

Oasis at Riverlights

4027 Watercraft Ferry Ave,
Wilmington, NC 28412

$1,295 - $2,073

1-3 Beds

Westgate Townes

Westgate Townes

2108 Silty Soil Ct,
Leland, NC 28451

$1,972 - $2,196 Total Monthly Price

2-3 Beds

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United States North Carolina Wilmington 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 June 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