Connecticut vs North Carolina: cost of living compared
Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).
Is it cheaper to live in Connecticut or North Carolina?
- Overall, North Carolina is 9.0% less expensive than Connecticut (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Connecticut works out to about $68,300 in North Carolina, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 30.5% less in North Carolina. Goods are 0.7% lower and other services 4.4% lower.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 39.5% lower in North Carolina.
- After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $56,310 in North Carolina and $74,254 in Connecticut (24.2% lower in North Carolina; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
- Inside each state, metro price levels run from 88.0 in Rocky Mount, NC to 98.2 in Raleigh, NC (North Carolina) and from 99.8 in Waterbury, CT to 106.9 in Bridgeport, CT (Connecticut), US = 100.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when North Carolina was 11.6% less expensive than Connecticut.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state. Statewide averages mix cities and rural areas; taxes are not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both states against the US average (100).
Housing drives the gap: 30.5% lower in North Carolina than in Connecticut
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Connecticut
- North Carolina
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Connecticut | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.6 | 94.3 |
| Goods | 97.3 | 96.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 117.0 | 81.4 |
| Utilities | 146.5 | 88.6 |
| Other services | 102.7 | 98.2 |
| Category | Connecticut | North Carolina | North Carolina vs Connecticut |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.6 | 94.3 | −9.0% |
| Goods | 97.3 | 96.6 | −0.7% |
| Housing (rents) | 117.0 | 81.4 | −30.5% |
| Utilities | 146.5 | 88.6 | −39.5% |
| Other services | 102.7 | 98.2 | −4.4% |
| Income per person, adjusted for prices | $74,254 | $56,310 | −24.2% |
| Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026* | $4.25 | $3.86 | −9.2% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Connecticut | $75,000 | $68,300 | −9.0% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Income: BEA real personal income per person, 2017 dollars. Gas: EIA weekly retail prices. *New England region average (EIA has no separate Connecticut figure). *Lower Atlantic region average (EIA has no separate North Carolina figure).
Cheapest and most expensive places in each state
Connecticut
- Waterbury, CT 99.8
- Norwich, CT 100.4
- Hartford, CT 102.7
- New Haven, CT 104.6
- Bridgeport, CT 106.9
North Carolina
- Rocky Mount, NC 88.0
- Pinehurst, NC 88.3
- Greenville, NC 88.4
- Goldsboro, NC 88.5
- Hickory, NC 88.5
- Fayetteville, NC 92.0
- Winston-Salem, NC 92.0
- Jacksonville, NC 92.1
- Greensboro, NC 92.9
- Burlington, NC 93.2
- Wilmington, NC 96.4
- Asheville, NC 96.5
- Charlotte, NC 97.3
- Durham, NC 97.6
- Virginia Beach, VA 97.9
- Raleigh, NC 98.2
Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Connecticut and North Carolina has narrowed since 2008: 18.0 points then, 9.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Connecticut
- North Carolina
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Connecticut | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 110.5 | 92.4 |
| 2009 | 110.7 | 91.3 |
| 2010 | 107.0 | 92.9 |
| 2011 | 107.8 | 93.6 |
| 2012 | 107.6 | 93.5 |
| 2013 | 107.7 | 93.7 |
| 2014 | 107.0 | 93.8 |
| 2015 | 107.5 | 93.6 |
| 2016 | 107.5 | 93.8 |
| 2017 | 107.2 | 93.0 |
| 2018 | 104.0 | 92.9 |
| 2019 | 103.9 | 91.9 |
| 2020 | 105.1 | 91.3 |
| 2021 | 102.9 | 93.7 |
| 2022 | 106.4 | 94.0 |
| 2023 | 104.2 | 94.4 |
| 2024 | 103.6 | 94.3 |
Goods
- Connecticut
- North Carolina
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Connecticut | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 109.6 | 96.6 |
| 2009 | 108.7 | 94.3 |
| 2010 | 103.6 | 96.9 |
| 2011 | 103.8 | 96.4 |
| 2012 | 104.6 | 95.6 |
| 2013 | 104.3 | 96.0 |
| 2014 | 103.4 | 95.7 |
| 2015 | 103.2 | 95.0 |
| 2016 | 103.6 | 95.9 |
| 2017 | 104.4 | 95.7 |
| 2018 | 101.4 | 95.7 |
| 2019 | 98.7 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 99.0 | 95.4 |
| 2021 | 97.0 | 96.2 |
| 2022 | 101.1 | 95.6 |
| 2023 | 98.6 | 96.8 |
| 2024 | 97.3 | 96.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Connecticut
- North Carolina
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Connecticut | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 131.4 | 74.3 |
| 2009 | 137.0 | 75.3 |
| 2010 | 129.0 | 75.4 |
| 2011 | 129.7 | 76.3 |
| 2012 | 131.5 | 75.8 |
| 2013 | 129.6 | 76.0 |
| 2014 | 127.7 | 76.3 |
| 2015 | 132.5 | 75.8 |
| 2016 | 127.4 | 74.7 |
| 2017 | 121.4 | 75.5 |
| 2018 | 122.2 | 75.3 |
| 2019 | 118.0 | 75.4 |
| 2020 | 123.2 | 75.0 |
| 2021 | 120.9 | 76.0 |
| 2022 | 119.8 | 78.8 |
| 2023 | 116.6 | 80.8 |
| 2024 | 117.0 | 81.4 |
Utilities
- Connecticut
- North Carolina
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Connecticut | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 154.5 | 85.4 |
| 2009 | 157.1 | 85.5 |
| 2010 | 146.7 | 87.6 |
| 2011 | 138.3 | 87.3 |
| 2012 | 135.1 | 90.5 |
| 2013 | 134.2 | 89.8 |
| 2014 | 135.6 | 90.4 |
| 2015 | 139.1 | 91.0 |
| 2016 | 142.8 | 88.4 |
| 2017 | 144.6 | 85.4 |
| 2018 | 140.7 | 86.8 |
| 2019 | 143.4 | 89.2 |
| 2020 | 159.9 | 87.7 |
| 2021 | 146.5 | 84.6 |
| 2022 | 140.0 | 82.5 |
| 2023 | 153.2 | 83.6 |
| 2024 | 146.5 | 88.6 |
Other services
- Connecticut
- North Carolina
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Connecticut | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.6 | 97.7 |
| 2009 | 104.1 | 96.6 |
| 2010 | 102.3 | 98.1 |
| 2011 | 103.9 | 99.5 |
| 2012 | 102.7 | 99.9 |
| 2013 | 103.6 | 100.0 |
| 2014 | 103.2 | 100.2 |
| 2015 | 103.3 | 100.3 |
| 2016 | 104.0 | 100.7 |
| 2017 | 104.4 | 98.8 |
| 2018 | 100.2 | 98.3 |
| 2019 | 102.3 | 95.8 |
| 2020 | 102.4 | 95.5 |
| 2021 | 100.8 | 99.6 |
| 2022 | 104.9 | 99.7 |
| 2023 | 103.0 | 98.7 |
| 2024 | 102.7 | 98.2 |
What incomes buy in each state
Income per person after adjusting for prices: $56,310 in North Carolina, $74,254 in Connecticut
Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).
- Connecticut
- North Carolina
- United States
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.
Show the numbers
| Connecticut | North Carolina | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $61,522 | $45,858 | $45,816 |
| 2009 | $60,598 | $44,321 | $44,204 |
| 2010 | $63,477 | $42,691 | $44,808 |
| 2011 | $63,006 | $42,462 | $45,957 |
| 2012 | $62,569 | $44,038 | $46,796 |
| 2013 | $60,162 | $42,463 | $46,358 |
| 2014 | $62,123 | $43,820 | $47,661 |
| 2015 | $63,396 | $45,796 | $49,396 |
| 2016 | $64,086 | $46,302 | $49,828 |
| 2017 | $64,637 | $47,646 | $51,006 |
| 2018 | $68,121 | $48,676 | $52,242 |
| 2019 | $69,091 | $50,966 | $53,683 |
| 2020 | $70,018 | $54,346 | $56,514 |
| 2021 | $73,422 | $56,146 | $59,365 |
| 2022 | $69,250 | $54,204 | $57,104 |
| 2023 | $71,915 | $54,748 | $58,088 |
| 2024 | $74,254 | $56,310 | $59,195 |
More
- Cost of living in Connecticut
- Cost of living in North Carolina
- Reverse: moving from North Carolina to Connecticut
- All states ranked
Related state comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State income, sales and property taxes differ a lot between states and are not included.
- Where you live inside the state. Statewide figures average cities and rural areas; the metro lists above show the spread.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider if housing is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels and incomes are for 2024; gas prices are weekly.