Cost of living in North Carolina
Everyday prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the US average, the 21st lowest of 51 states and DC.
By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays. Updated November 2026.
North Carolina cities we cover
- Greensboro7% cheaper than average
- Home
- $327,000
- Mortgage
- $1,797/mo
- 2-bed rent
- $1,218
- Charlotte3% cheaper than average
- Home
- $424,950
- Mortgage
- $2,335/mo
- 2-bed rent
- $1,589
- Raleigh2% cheaper than average
- Home
- $445,000
- Mortgage
- $2,445/mo
- 2-bed rent
- $1,673
- Durham2% cheaper than average
- Home
- $460,135
- Mortgage
- $2,529/mo
- 2-bed rent
- $1,630
- Wilmington4% cheaper than average
- Home
- $471,489
- Mortgage
- $2,591/mo
- 2-bed rent
- $1,658
- Asheville3% cheaper than average
- Home
- $575,000
- Mortgage
- $3,160/mo
- 2-bed rent
- $1,492
North Carolina next to New York and the US
North CarolinaUnited StatesNew York metro
- Everyday prices6% cheaper than averageUS average · New York metro 13% pricier
- Housing, rent included19% cheaper than averageUS average · New York metro 49% pricier
- 2-bedroom rent$1,346/mo14% less than the USUS $1,563 · New York metro $1,997
- Typical home for sale$400,0005% less than the USUS $419,250 · New York metro $742,000Mortgage $2,198/mo, US $2,304, New York metro $4,078. 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32%.
How affordable is North Carolina?
Rent and home prices next to what households earn.6
$80,250
Typical household incomeA year · 39th highest of 51
20%
Of income goes to rentA year of 2-bed rent ($1,346/mo) against median income ($80,250). 32nd lowest of 51.
5.0
Years of income to buy a home$400,000 median listing against $80,250 income. 27th lowest of 50.
Are people moving to North Carolina?
84,064 more people moved to North Carolina from other states than left between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).
- 2019-20+70,229
- 2020-21+103,627
- 2021-22+98,454
- 2022-23+98,929
- 2023-24+83,059
- 2024-25+84,064
Metro areas in North Carolina
Price levelUS averageShorter bar = cheaper, longer = pricier
- 1Winston-Salem, NC8% cheaper than average
- 2-bed rent
- $1,117
- Typical home
- $334,900
- Mortgage
- $1,840/mo
- 2Greensboro, NC7% cheaper than average
- 2-bed rent
- $1,218
- Typical home
- $327,000
- Mortgage
- $1,797/mo
- 3Wilmington, NC4% cheaper than average
- 2-bed rent
- $1,658
- Typical home
- $471,489
- Mortgage
- $2,591/mo
- 4Asheville, NC3% cheaper than average
- 2-bed rent
- $1,492
- Typical home
- $575,000
- Mortgage
- $3,160/mo
North Carolina next to its neighbors
The states that border North Carolina, on the same measures. The number is each state's national rank on everyday prices.1,4,2
- 14Tennessee8% cheaper than average
- 2-bed rent
- $1,306
- Typical home
- $429,450
- Net moves
- +42,389
- 19South Carolina6% cheaper than average
- 2-bed rent
- $1,338
- Typical home
- $359,945
- Net moves
- +66,622
- 21North CarolinaThis state6% cheaper than average
- 2-bed rent
- $1,346
- Typical home
- $400,000
- Net moves
- +84,064
- 25Georgia4% cheaper than average
- 2-bed rent
- $1,524
- Typical home
- $389,750
- Net moves
- +27,333
- 36Virginia1% pricier than average
- 2-bed rent
- $1,673
- Typical home
- $455,953
- Net moves
- +6,268
North Carolina by the numbers
Every figure on this page, as tables
North Carolina next to New York and the US
| Place | Price level | Housing | Typical home | Monthly payment | 2-bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 94.3 | 81.4 | $400,000 | $2,198 | $1,346 |
| United States | 100.0 | 100.0 | $419,250 | $2,304 | $1,563 |
| New York metro | 112.6 | 148.6 | $742,000 | $4,078 | $1,997 |
North Carolina cities we cover
| City | Typical home | Monthly payment | 2-bedroom rent | Price level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro | $327,000 | $1,797 | $1,218 | 92.9 |
| Charlotte | $424,950 | $2,335 | $1,589 | 97.3 |
| Raleigh | $445,000 | $2,445 | $1,673 | 98.2 |
| Durham | $460,135 | $2,529 | $1,630 | 97.6 |
| Wilmington | $471,489 | $2,591 | $1,658 | 96.4 |
| Asheville | $575,000 | $3,160 | $1,492 | 96.5 |
Metro areas in North Carolina
| Metro | Price level | 2-bedroom rent | Typical home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem, NC | 92.0 | $1,117 | $334,900 |
| Greensboro, NC | 92.9 | $1,218 | $327,000 |
| Wilmington, NC | 96.4 | $1,658 | $471,489 |
| Asheville, NC | 96.5 | $1,492 | $575,000 |
| Charlotte, NC | 97.3 | $1,589 | $424,950 |
| Durham, NC | 97.6 | $1,630 | $460,135 |
| Raleigh, NC | 98.2 | $1,673 | $445,000 |
North Carolina next to its neighbors
| State | Price level | 2-bedroom rent | Typical home | Net moves from other states |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 94.3 | $1,346 | $400,000 | +84,064 |
| Georgia | 96.3 | $1,524 | $389,750 | +27,333 |
| South Carolina | 93.7 | $1,338 | $359,945 | +66,622 |
| Tennessee | 91.9 | $1,306 | $429,450 | +42,389 |
| Virginia | 101.1 | $1,673 | $455,953 | +6,268 |
Net moves from other states
| Year (July to July) | Net moves from other states |
|---|---|
| 2019-20 | +70,229 |
| 2020-21 | +103,627 |
| 2021-22 | +98,454 |
| 2022-23 | +98,929 |
| 2023-24 | +83,059 |
| 2024-25 | +84,064 |
States with a similar cost of living to North Carolina
Keep comparing
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- Every stateCost of living
- Cheapest placesUS metros ranked
- Best places in North CarolinaRanked
- Cheapest places in North CarolinaRanked
- Property taxesEvery state ranked
- Pays you to moveStates with incentives
- Moving costsWhat a move out of state costs
- Moving to North CarolinaGuide
- North Carolina vs South CarolinaGuide
- From New YorkMoving guide
- From CaliforniaMoving guide
North Carolina cost of living: questions people ask
What is the cost of living in North Carolina?
Everyday prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the US average, the 21st lowest of 51 states and DC (BEA, 2024). Housing costs, rent included, index at 81.4 against a US average of 100. The median listed home is $400,000 (Realtor.com, September 2026), about $2,198 a month in principal and interest. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,346 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $125,698 in North Carolina.
Is North Carolina cheap or expensive to live in?
Cheaper than average. North Carolina's regional price parity is 94.3, so the same basket of goods, services and rent costs 5.7% less than the US average (BEA, 2024).
How much does a house cost in North Carolina?
The median listed home in North Carolina is $400,000 as of September 2026 (Realtor.com via FRED), against $419,250 nationally. That ranks 25th lowest of 50. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest run about $2,198 a month.
How much is rent in North Carolina?
The median gross rent for a 2-bedroom in North Carolina is $1,346 a month, including utilities the renter pays, against $1,563 for the US (Census American Community Survey, 2025).
What salary in North Carolina equals $150,000 in New York?
About $125,698, using BEA regional price parities for North Carolina (94.3) and the New York metro (112.6), 2024.
Are people moving to North Carolina?
84,064 more people moved to North Carolina from other states than left between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).
Which North Carolina cities do you cover?
Greensboro ($327,000), Charlotte ($424,950), Raleigh ($445,000), Durham ($460,135), Wilmington ($471,489), Asheville ($575,000). Each has its own page with monthly costs, weather and flights.
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Notes on the numbers
- 1Everyday prices, housing costs and price levels: BEA regional price parities via FRED, 2024, where the US average is 100. In ranked lists, 1 is the cheapest.
- 2Homes: the typical home is the median listing price, Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026.
- 3Mortgage: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA.
- 4Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units, including utilities.
- 5Net moves: US Census Bureau population estimates, net domestic migration, July to July.
- 6Affordability: our arithmetic on Census median gross rent (2025), Census median household income (2025) and Realtor.com median listing price (September 2026). Rank 1 is the most affordable.
Sources for this page
- Price level: BEA via FRED NCRPPALL, 2024
- Housing: BEA via FRED NCRPPSERVERENT, 2024
- Median listing: Realtor.com via FRED MEDLISPRINC, September 2026
- Household income: Census via FRED MEHOINUSNCA646N, 2025
- US median listing: Realtor.com via FRED MEDLISPRIUS, September 2026
- Net domestic migration 2024-25: https://planning.maryland.gov/MSDC/Documents/pop_estimate/estimates-post2010/table6.pdf (Census Vintage 2025 estimates via Maryland Dept of Planning Table 6; 2024-25 cross-checked vs https://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/census/popestimate/2025/state-pop/NST-EST2025-COMP.pdf)
- Mortgage rate: Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026
- 2-bedroom rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units (rent plus utilities)
- New York metro: Realtor.com via FRED MEDLISPRI35620; BEA via FRED RPPALL35620, 2024
- © Realtor.com, Housing Inventory Core Metrics (median listing price and median listing price per square foot), retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis