Cost of living comparison
North Carolina is 5.4% more expensive than South Carolina.
- Restaurants
-
pay 5.8% less in North Carolina
- Groceries
-
pay 9.3% more in North Carolina
- Transportation
-
pay 6.5% more in North Carolina
- Housing
-
pay 0.3% less in North Carolina
- Childcare
-
pay 4.9% more in North Carolina
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 18.0% more in North Carolina
The cost of entertainment and sports, groceries, transportation, and childcare in North Carolina are more expensive than in South Carolina. Expenses including restaurants, housing, and clothing are lower in North Carolina.
If you lived in North Carolina instead of South Carolina, you would:
pay 5.8% less for restaurants
|
South Carolina
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$17.57
|
$16.06
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.40
|
$10.06
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.41
|
$2.31
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.86
|
$1.72
|
|
pay 9.3% more for groceries
|
South Carolina
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.02
|
$3.48
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$4.99
|
$6.25
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.25
|
$3.46
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.94
|
$3.28
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.81
|
$4.77
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.50
|
$2.35
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.81
|
$0.74
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.11
|
$2.18
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.90
|
$2.16
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.25
|
$1.51
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.37
|
$1.66
|
|
pay 6.5% more for transportation
|
South Carolina
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.08
|
$3.19
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$49.00
|
$53.89
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,676.82
|
$34,400.31
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$19.29
|
$19.36
|
|
pay 0.3% less for housing
|
South Carolina
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$63.14
|
$72.47
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,510.93
|
$1,527.81
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,398.21
|
$1,294.23
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$144.70
|
$130.82
|
|
pay 4.9% more for childcare
|
South Carolina
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,335.89
|
$1,254.70
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$21,679.50
|
$25,128.75
|
|
pay 18.0% more for entertainment and sports
|
South Carolina
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.79
|
$5.09
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.08
|
$4.89
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.37
|
$7.33
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$29.76
|
$54.04
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$12.57
|
$13.35
|
|
pay (unknown) more for clothing
|
South Carolina
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$45.07
|
$49.88
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.58
|
$37.28
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$89.11
|
$86.65
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$113.24
|
$111.01
|
Change currency:
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about North Carolina or South Carolina. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.