Cost of living comparison
North Carolina is 9.7% cheaper than Virginia.
- Restaurants
-
pay 13.3% less in North Carolina
- Groceries
-
pay 3.9% less in North Carolina
- Transportation
-
pay 4.5% less in North Carolina
- Housing
-
pay 9.0% less in North Carolina
- Childcare
-
pay 17.6% less in North Carolina
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 11.1% less in North Carolina
- Clothing
-
pay 8.6% less in North Carolina
Expenses including childcare, restaurants, entertainment and sports, housing, clothing, and transportation are lower in North Carolina.
If you lived in North Carolina instead of Virginia, you would:
pay 13.3% less for restaurants
Virginia
|
North Carolina
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$20.49
|
$16.06
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.13
|
$10.06
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.48
|
$2.31
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.04
|
$1.72
|
|
pay 3.9% less for groceries
Virginia
|
North Carolina
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.44
|
$3.48
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.98
|
$6.25
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.79
|
$3.46
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.41
|
$3.28
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.54
|
$4.77
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$2.62
|
$2.35
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.74
|
$0.74
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.23
|
$2.18
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.41
|
$2.16
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.55
|
$1.51
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.41
|
$1.66
|
|
pay 4.5% less for transportation
Virginia
|
North Carolina
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.36
|
$3.19
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$79.15
|
$53.89
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$32,788.87
|
$34,400.31
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$16.99
|
$19.36
|
|
pay 9.0% less for housing
Virginia
|
North Carolina
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$69.48
|
$72.47
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,832.03
|
$1,527.81
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,500.84
|
$1,294.23
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$145.31
|
$130.82
|
|
pay 17.6% less for childcare
Virginia
|
North Carolina
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,614.20
|
$1,254.70
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$28,849.72
|
$25,128.75
|
|
pay 11.1% less for entertainment and sports
Virginia
|
North Carolina
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.17
|
$5.09
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.19
|
$4.89
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.03
|
$7.33
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$58.19
|
$54.04
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.24
|
$13.35
|
|
pay 8.6% less for clothing
Virginia
|
North Carolina
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.05
|
$49.88
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.36
|
$37.28
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$92.16
|
$86.65
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$126.91
|
$111.01
|
|
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