Cost of living comparison
North Carolina is 12.5% cheaper than Massachusetts.
- Restaurants
-
pay 14.2% less in North Carolina
- Groceries
-
pay 9.1% less in North Carolina
- Transportation
-
pay 5.2% less in North Carolina
- Housing
-
pay 14.9% less in North Carolina
- Childcare
-
pay 20.4% less in North Carolina
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 20.9% less in North Carolina
- Clothing
-
pay 2.9% less in North Carolina
Expenses including entertainment and sports, childcare, housing, restaurants, groceries, and transportation are lower in North Carolina.
If you lived in North Carolina instead of Massachusetts, you would:
pay 14.2% less for restaurants
|
Massachusetts
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$21.19
|
$16.06
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.79
|
$10.06
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.62
|
$2.31
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.01
|
$1.72
|
|
pay 9.1% less for groceries
|
Massachusetts
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.71
|
$3.48
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.31
|
$6.25
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.52
|
$3.46
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.50
|
$3.28
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.98
|
$4.77
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.53
|
$2.35
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.77
|
$0.74
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.15
|
$2.18
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.69
|
$2.16
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.71
|
$1.51
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.44
|
$1.66
|
|
pay 5.2% less for transportation
|
Massachusetts
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.51
|
$3.19
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$71.71
|
$53.89
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$33,785.54
|
$34,400.31
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.40
|
$19.36
|
|
pay 14.9% less for housing
|
Massachusetts
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.08
|
$72.47
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,074.76
|
$1,527.81
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,940.55
|
$1,294.23
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$139.83
|
$130.82
|
|
pay 20.4% less for childcare
|
Massachusetts
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,960.62
|
$1,254.70
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$26,428.57
|
$25,128.75
|
|
pay 20.9% less for entertainment and sports
|
Massachusetts
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.63
|
$5.09
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.00
|
$4.89
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$12.10
|
$7.33
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$81.60
|
$54.04
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.20
|
$13.35
|
|
pay 2.9% less for clothing
|
Massachusetts
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.62
|
$49.88
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.05
|
$37.28
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.58
|
$86.65
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$116.52
|
$111.01
|
|
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