What it actually costs to live in North Carolina.
North Carolina’s cost-of-living index sits at 98 on the MERIC composite (national average = 100), ranking #28 of 51 jurisdictions for cost. That means a standard basket of goods + services in North Carolina costs about 2% LESS than the US average. Median home price: $365,000. Population-weighted median rent across metros: $1,287/mo.
North Carolina cost components
| Component | North Carolina | National avg |
|---|---|---|
| COL index (basket) | 98 | 100 |
| Median home price | $365,000 | ~$420,000 |
| Median rent (pop-weighted) | $1,287/mo | ~$1,850/mo |
| Commute cost (proxy) | $197/mo | ~$185/mo |
Commute cost = avg metro commute minutes × $0.18/min × 2 trips × 22 work days. Refined BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey integration tracked for v1.
How North Carolina compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions, North Carolina ranks #28 for cost. That places North Carolina in the middle — moderate cost without being a particular outlier. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive cost-of-living map.
North Carolina metros — city-level cost
State averages hide major intra-state variation. Charlotte has very different housing dynamics than smaller North Carolina metros. Click any city for the full home affordability breakdown.
- CharlotteCOL 104 · home $365,000rent $1,595/mo →
- RaleighCOL 105 · home $380,000rent $1,131/mo →
- DurhamCOL 104 · home $360,000rent $1,350/mo →
- GreensboroCOL 88 · home $235,000rent $949/mo →
- Winston-SalemCOL 88 · home $230,000rent $950/mo →
- FayettevilleCOL 84 · home $195,000rent $859/mo →
- AshevilleCOL 106 · home $395,000rent $1,450/mo →
- High PointCOL 85 · home $215,000rent $950/mo →
- WilmingtonCOL 100 · home $345,000rent $1,350/mo →
More North Carolina metros coming as we expand city coverage.
North Carolina cost of living — common questions
What is the cost of living in North Carolina?
North Carolina's MERIC cost-of-living index is 98 (national average = 100). That means a typical basket of goods + services in North Carolina costs about 2% less than the US average.
What is the median home price in North Carolina?
North Carolina's state-level median home price is approximately $365,000 (Census ACS 2024). Metros vary significantly — see the top-metro list below for city-level breakdowns.
What is the median rent in North Carolina?
North Carolina's population-weighted median rent across metros in our dataset is approximately $1,287/mo. Major-metro rents typically run 30-80% above this state-level average.
Are there any North Carolina-specific cost-of-living quirks?
Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham have seen 70%+ home-price appreciation since 2020 due to tech/banking in-migration; Asheville is now a top-10 nationally for COL increase since 2019.
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · COL source: MERIC quarterly; home + rent: Census ACS 2024. Last verified 2026-04-19.