Cost of living in North Carolina

Situated nicely on the southeastern coast of the United States, North Carolina is a sweet spot for mild weather, low unemployment and affordable living.

Over 10 million Americans call the state home, according to its Office of State Budget and Management, and the population is expected to approach 14 million by 2050. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reveals that North Carolinians spent an average of $38,295 per year on living costs in 2020, well below the national average of $42,635.

With the Blue Ridge and Smoky mountains, 300 miles of Atlantic beaches and many big-name colleges and universities, this state’s popularity is sure to continue. Let’s break down the cost of living in North Carolina.

Housing costs

Buying a home in North Carolina will probably cost you less than it would in many other states, according to Redfin data. The median sale price in the state was $345,300 as of October 2022, which is more than $30,000 less than the current national median of $379,100.

However, prices can vary wildly depending on where in the state you’re looking to call home. For example, buying a house in a hot area, like coastal Wilmington or big-city Charlotte, will cost you around $400,000 or higher — sometimes considerably higher — while homes in smaller towns or rural areas can be had for much less. Bankrate’s new-house calculator can help you figure out how much house you can afford here.

Renters may also be able to score a deal in North Carolina. Zillow Rental Manager data puts the state’s median rent at $1,875, which is more than $200 per month less than the national average of $2,100.

Job market in North Carolina

North Carolina boasts a robust job market, with plenty of tourism and key industries including aerospace, pharmaceuticals and food manufacturing, according to the state’s Department of Commerce. The Research Triangle area of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill is home to three large universities — NC State, Duke and UNC — and the largest research park in the U.S. Huge companies like Lowe’s, with headquarters in Mooresville, and Bank of America, based in Charlotte, are also major employers.

The state’s unemployment rate of 3.8 percent places North Carolina in the middle of the country, ranking 31st per the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of October 2022. Data from ZipRecruiter, an employment website, shows the average annual salary in the state is just over $54,000.

Food costs

Like most markets nationally, recent Consumer Price Index numbers in the region have been tracking upward for food costs. Food prices across the South increased by just over 11 percent between October 2021 and October 2022. The Food at Home category, which includes everyday grocery items like eggs, milk, produce and baked goods, saw an even sharper spike of 12.7 percent. The MIT Living Wage Calculator puts North Carolina food-related expenses at $3,351 per year for a single person, or $9,856 for a family of four.

Transportation

Public transportation options throughout the state include buses, trains and ferries. Options are more robust in the larger cities — for example, the Charlotte Area Transit System (known as CATS) offers express buses, local shuttle routes and two light-rail train lines.

MIT’s calculator estimates the state’s annual transportation costs for a single person at $5,509. The average cost of gas in North Carolina, per AAA data, was $3.29 per gallon as of late November — that’s more than 20 cents cheaper than the national average.

Local and state taxes & fees

• There is no state property tax in North Carolina, giving homeowners in the Tar Heel State a break in this arena. Property taxes on real estate are assessed at the local level, though.
• The individual income tax rate is a flat 4.99 percent for tax year 2022, down from 5.25 in recent years. State legislation has set the income tax rate to continue declining annually; it’s set to hit 3.6 percent by 2026.
• State sales tax is a relatively low 4.75 percent, with the Tax Foundation ranking it 35 out of the 50 states. But combined with locally assessed sales taxes, the total rises to 6.98 percent, with a ranking of 26.
• As of late November 2022, mortgage rates in North Carolina were averaging 6.81 percent for a 30-year fixed mortgage and 6.17 percent for a 15-year fixed.

Moving to North Carolina

The overall cost of living in North Carolina may be favorable compared to where you currently live. While prices across various sectors have gone up throughout 2022, housing prices and many other costs continue to be lower than the national average.

Before moving, use Bankrate’s cost of living calculator to crunch the cost differential between your current locale and where you’d like to move in North Carolina. If you do decide to relocate here, particularly from out-of-state, don’t forget to factor the cost of moving itself into your budget.

FAQs

• Is living in North Carolina expensive?

  The cost of living isn’t cheap anywhere these days, but North Carolina tends to be more affordable than many other states. Median home sale prices, rent prices and many taxes are generally lower than the national average. According to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, the living wage in North Carolina for a family of four works out to about $23.81 per hour — lower than the U.S. average of $24.16. BestPlaces.net ranks the state’s overall cost of living at 91/100, with 100 representing the national average. Major cities are typically more expensive than smaller towns or rural areas.
  

• What income do you need to live in North Carolina?

  According to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, the living wage in North Carolina for a family of four works out to $23.81 per hour, while a single person’s living wage would be $17.14 per hour. (It defines “living wage” as the amount an individual needs to earn to support themselves and their family.) Given a 40-hour workweek and 52 weeks per year, this works out to an annual salary of about $49,500. Per ZipRecruiter, the average salary in the state is $54,244.