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Rental Market Trends in Wilmington, NC

Updated July 2026

The average rent in Wilmington, NC is $1,409/month.

Rent in Wilmington is 15% lower than the national average rent of $1,663/month, making this one of the less expensive cities statewide.

$1,409/month

Average Rent

730 Sq Ft

Average Size

+5.4%

Change / Year

3,702

Available Apartments

Wilmington rent varies by unit size and layout:

  • Studio apartments in Wilmington average $1,261 per month.
  • One-bedroom apartments in Wilmington average $1,409 per month.
  • Two-bedroom apartments in Wilmington average $1,681 per month.
  • Three-bedroom apartments in Wilmington average $2,028 or more per month.

Average Rent by Home Type

Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$1,261/month
523 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,409/month
730 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,681/month
1,064 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,028/month
1,333 Sq Ft
Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,465/month
287 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,633/month
897 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,162/month
1,115 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$3,139/month
1,979 Sq Ft
Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,019/month
692 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,677/month
630 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,749/month
1,176 Sq Ft
Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,797/month
1,013 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,107/month
1,328 Sq Ft
View Wilmington Apartments

How much has average rent changed in Wilmington, NC?

In the past year, rent has increased by 5.4%, which averages out to $77 more per month.

Market Trends Over Time

July 2026

2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time

Rent Ranges in Wilmington, NC

July 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
45% $1,001 - $1,500/month
42% $1,501 - $2,000/month
9% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

  • Most Affordable
  • Most Expensive
  • Most Available

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Wilmington?

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

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Kirkland
$1,366/month
782 Sq Ft
College Acres
$1,376/month
665 Sq Ft
Northchase
$1,397/month
772 Sq Ft
Lincoln Forest
$1,446/month
537 Sq Ft
Cape Fear Country Club
$1,475/month
661 Sq Ft
Pine Valley West
$1,512/month
768 Sq Ft
Bayshore
$1,528/month
785 Sq Ft
Murraysville
$1,535/month
754 Sq Ft
Kings Grant
$1,544/month
757 Sq Ft
Smith Creek Village Townhomes
$1,585/month
809 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Wilmington?

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

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Mayfaire
$1,973/month
782 Sq Ft
Landfall
$1,923/month
779 Sq Ft
Downtown Wilmington
$1,856/month
769 Sq Ft
Shipyard Plaza
$1,757/month
812 Sq Ft
Silver Lake
$1,752/month
799 Sq Ft
South Side
$1,745/month
683 Sq Ft
Masonboro
$1,717/month
748 Sq Ft
Echo Farms
$1,695/month
799 Sq Ft
Windemere
$1,677/month
792 Sq Ft
Carolina Heights
$1,673/month
742 Sq Ft

Which Wilmington neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhoods in Wilmington with the most apartments available are Echo Farms, Landfall and Mayfaire .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Echo Farms
$1,695/month
799 Sq Ft
Landfall
$1,923/month
779 Sq Ft
Mayfaire
$1,973/month
782 Sq Ft
Silver Lake
$1,752/month
799 Sq Ft
Shipyard Plaza
$1,757/month
812 Sq Ft
College Acres
$1,376/month
665 Sq Ft
Cape Fear Country Club
$1,475/month
661 Sq Ft
Kings Grant
$1,544/month
757 Sq Ft
Downtown Wilmington
$1,856/month
769 Sq Ft
Bayshore
$1,528/month
785 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 $1,409, you’ll want to make about $4,696 per month or $56,352 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 5.3% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Wilmington is 21.4% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,261 - $2,028. You can expect to pay 1.9% less for groceries, 1.7% more for utilities, and 5.3% more for transportation.

City

Wilmington, NC

3,702 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.

View the Wilmington Area Guide

Apartment Averages

Kirkland

Wilmington, NC

Mayfaire

Wilmington, NC

Studio
-
$1,250/month
One Bedroom
$1,432/month
$1,825/month
Two Bedroom
$1,721/month
$2,432/month
Three Bedroom
$2,237/month
$3,376/month
View Rentals
View Rentals

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

1-3 Beds | $1,025 - $1,450

The Nixon

The Nixon

7015 Ruth Ave,
Wilmington, NC 28411

1-3 Beds | $1,889 - $1,909

Oasis at Riverlights

Oasis at Riverlights

4027 Watercraft Ferry Ave,
Wilmington, NC 28412

1-3 Beds | $1,598 - $2,052

Sidbury Crossing

Sidbury Crossing

4605 Sidbury Crossing Dr,
Castle Hayne, NC 28429

1-3 Beds | $1,380 - $2,041

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Wilmington?

The average rent in Wilmington is $1,409 per month, which is 15.3% lower than the national average of $1,663.

What is the average rent for a house in Wilmington?

The average rent for a house in Wilmington, NC is $2,162 per month.

What is the average rent for a townhome in Wilmington?

The average rent for a townhome in Wilmington, NC is $1,797 per month.

What is the average rent for a condo in Wilmington?

The average rent for a condo in Wilmington, NC is $2,019 per month.

Are rents going up or down in Wilmington?

Rents in Wilmington, NC are increasing, with prices up 5.4% year-over-year and $77 more per month.

What rent range is most common in Wilmington?

In Wilmington, NC, 45% of apartments fall between $1,001 - $1,500/month, though prices may vary depending on location and other factors.

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