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Rental Market Trends in Wilmington, NC

What is the average rent in Wilmington, NC?

$1,348/month

Average Rent

732 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+0.1%

Increase in the Last Year

As of April 2026, the average rent in Wilmington, NC is $1,348 per month. This is 18% lower than the national average rent of $1,641/month, making renting in Wilmington more affordable than most cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in Wilmington, you can expect to pay about $1,225 per month for a studio, $1,348 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $1,612 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $1,936 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$1,225/month
534 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,348/month
732 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,612/month
1,064 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,936/month
1,335 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,667/month
897 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,215/month
1,382 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$2,808/month
1,909 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,132/month
178 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,586/month
755 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,734/month
971 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,341/month
1,319 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Wilmington, NC?

In the past year, rent has increased by 0.1%, which averages out to $1 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 April 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Wilmington, NC
Last Updated April 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
50% $1,001 - $1,500/month
37% $1,501 - $2,000/month
8% 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 Bayshore are the most affordable neighborhoods in Wilmington.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
College Acres
$1,409/month
676 Sq Ft
Northchase
$1,418/month
764 Sq Ft
Bayshore
$1,446/month
773 Sq Ft
Murraysville
$1,462/month
746 Sq Ft
Kirkland
$1,467/month
770 Sq Ft
River Pointe-Masonboro Commons
$1,521/month
722 Sq Ft
Ogden
$1,538/month
768 Sq Ft
Cape Fear Country Club
$1,541/month
787 Sq Ft
Carolina Heights
$1,551/month
721 Sq Ft
Pine Valley West
$1,568/month
794 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Wilmington?

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

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Covil Estates
$1,927/month
811 Sq Ft
Landfall
$1,837/month
798 Sq Ft
Shipyard Plaza
$1,811/month
826 Sq Ft
Downtown Wilmington
$1,742/month
753 Sq Ft
Masonboro
$1,700/month
772 Sq Ft
Silver Lake
$1,693/month
778 Sq Ft
Echo Farms
$1,671/month
795 Sq Ft
Mayfaire
$1,653/month
882 Sq Ft
Myrtle Grove
$1,652/month
919 Sq Ft
South Side
$1,647/month
685 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
$1,671/month
795 Sq Ft
Silver Lake
$1,693/month
778 Sq Ft
Shipyard Plaza
$1,811/month
826 Sq Ft
Cape Fear Country Club
$1,541/month
787 Sq Ft
College Acres
$1,409/month
676 Sq Ft
Downtown Wilmington
$1,742/month
753 Sq Ft
Murraysville
$1,462/month
746 Sq Ft
Kings Grant
$1,596/month
759 Sq Ft
Northchase
$1,418/month
764 Sq Ft
South Side
$1,647/month
685 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 $1,348, you’ll want to make about $4,493 per month or $53,916 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 $1,225 - $1,936. You can expect to pay 1.9% less for groceries, 3.9% more for utilities, and 5.3% more for transportation.

City

Wilmington, NC

3,586 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

Covil Estates

Wilmington, NC

Studio
-
-
One Bedroom
$1,346/month
$1,607/month
Two Bedroom
$1,537/month
$2,091/month
Three Bedroom
$2,200/month
$3,162/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

$1,100 - $1,300

1-3 Beds

The Nixon

The Nixon

7015 Ruth Ave,
Wilmington, NC 28411

$1,814 - $1,959 Total Monthly Price

1-3 Beds

Sidbury Crossing

Sidbury Crossing

4605 Sidbury Crossing Dr,
Castle Hayne, NC 28429

$1,616 - $2,116 Total Monthly Price

1-3 Beds

Westgate Townes

Westgate Townes

2108 Silty Soil Ct,
Leland, NC 28451

$2,059 - $2,508 Total Monthly Price

2-3 Beds

Property Management Companies in Wilmington, NC

Tribute Properties, Inc.
Tribute Properties, Inc.
  • 27

    Communities

  • 6,301

    Units

  • 8

    Cities

16 Communities in Wilmington
Hawthorne Residential Partners
Hawthorne Residential Partners
  • 248

    Communities

  • 59,853

    Units

  • 111

    Cities

15 Communities in Wilmington
Greystar
Greystar
  • 3,486

    Communities

  • 959,251

    Units

  • 891

    Cities

12 Communities in Wilmington
Bell Partners
Bell Partners
  • 179

    Communities

  • 54,856

    Units

  • 99

    Cities

9 Communities in Wilmington
Drucker & Falk
Drucker & Falk
  • 163

    Communities

  • 38,592

    Units

  • 57

    Cities

5 Communities in Wilmington
Highmark Residential
Highmark Residential
  • 208

    Communities

  • 60,049

    Units

  • 114

    Cities

3 Communities in Wilmington
Southwood Realty Company
Southwood Realty Company
  • 102

    Communities

  • 24,618

    Units

  • 59

    Cities

3 Communities in Wilmington
Fortis Property Management
Fortis Property Management
  • 49

    Communities

  • 11,363

    Units

  • 39

    Cities

3 Communities in Wilmington

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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 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