Cost of living in North Carolina
compared to
#21
State Cost of Living Rank
Index: 83 (California = 100)
Cost of living in North Carolina vs. United States overall average
North Carolina is 3.8% cheaper than United States overall.
- Restaurants
- pay 9.4% less in North Carolina
- Groceries
- pay 5.8% more in North Carolina
- Transportation
- pay 0.8% less in North Carolina
- Housing
- pay 7.0% less in North Carolina
- Childcare
- pay 1.4% less in North Carolina
- Entertainment and Sports
- pay 10.2% less in North Carolina
- Clothing
- pay 3.3% less in North Carolina
North Carolina Cost of Living Breakdown
Restaurants
Cost | Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant | $17.06 | $11.88$11.88$34.28$34.28 |
| Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar | $10.47 | $9.53$9.53$13.93$13.93 |
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) | $2.28 | $1.90$1.90$3.31$3.31 |
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) | $1.82 | $1.51$1.51$2.67$2.67 |
North Carolina - Cost of restaurants
Groceries
Cost | Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Bread 1 loaf | $3.79 | $2.49$2.49$5.47$5.47 |
| Local cheese (8 oz) | $6.80 | $3.53$3.53$10.90$10.90 |
| Milk (1 gallon) | $3.73 | $2.66$2.66$5.81$5.81 |
| Eggs 1 dozen | $3.98 | $2.06$2.06$5.95$5.95 |
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) | $5.20 | $2.76$2.76$10.12$10.12 |
| Apples (1 lb) | $2.47 | $1.29$1.29$4.30$4.30 |
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.71 | $0.47$0.47$1.78$1.78 |
| Oranges (1 lb) | $2.20 | $1.17$1.17$4.24$4.24 |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $2.38 | $1.21$1.21$3.51$3.51 |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $1.74 | $0.74$0.74$3.37$3.37 |
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.80 | $0.99$0.99$2.70$2.70 |
North Carolina - Cost of groceries
Transportation
Cost | Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | $2.98 | $2.79$2.79$3.46$3.46 |
| Monthly public transit pass | $60.67 | $30.00$30.00$82.67$82.67 |
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) | $33,588.64 | $27,729.84$28K$36,736.76$37K |
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) | $19.99 | $17.31$17.31$25.73$25.73 |
North Carolina - Cost of transportation
Housing
Cost | Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl | $72.77 | $53.40$53.40$147.17$147.17 |
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area | $1,488.15 | $1,212.27$1K$1,985.27$2K |
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center | $1,261.77 | $1,034.23$1K$1,853.85$2K |
| Utilities for two (700 sq ft apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating | $132.31 | $94.09$94.09$255.29$255.29 |
North Carolina - Cost of housing
Childcare
Cost | Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly | $1,261.89 | $982.43$982.43$1,570.59$2K |
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters | $24,633.15 | $17,669.50$18K$32,294.60$32K |
North Carolina - Cost of childcare
Entertainment and Sports
Cost | Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) | $5.12 | $3.68$3.68$9.06$9.06 |
| Cappuccino in mid-range area | $4.82 | $3.45$3.45$8.00$8.00 |
| Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar | $7.77 | $6.74$6.74$10.79$10.79 |
| Monthly membership at local gym | $48.40 | $25.50$25.50$74.42$74.42 |
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema | $12.98 | $10.94$10.94$19.51$19.51 |
North Carolina - Cost of entertainment and sports
Clothing
Cost | Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Regular jeans Levi's brand | $49.30 | $32.72$32.72$78.36$78.36 |
| Regular dress from H&M or similar store | $37.76 | $23.50$23.50$53.78$53.78 |
| Running shoes Nike or Adidas | $88.37 | $59.39$59.39$139.39$139.39 |
| Men's business shoes (leather) | $111.01 | $66.83$66.83$171.25$171.25 |
North Carolina - Cost of clothing
Most Expensive Cities in North Carolina
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These numbers reflect the average prices of 3 cities in North Carolina, including Durham, Fayetteville, Winston-salem .
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