Rocky Mount, NC vs Florence, SC: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Florence, SC is 1.4% less expensive than Rocky Mount, NC (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Rocky Mount works out to about $73,900 in Florence, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 6.6% less in Florence. Goods are 0.3% lower and other services 0.1% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,516 a month in Florence and $1,273 in Rocky Mount, $2,916 a year more in Florence (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $193,000 in Florence and $198,000 in Rocky Mount.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Florence was 4.4% more expensive than Rocky Mount.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 6.6% lower in Florence than in Rocky Mount
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Rocky Mount, NC
- Florence, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rocky Mount, NC | Florence, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.0 | 86.8 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.3 |
| Housing (rents) | 56.1 | 52.4 |
| Utilities | 88.4 | 87.7 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.3 |
| Category | Rocky Mount | Florence | Florence vs Rocky Mount |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.0 | 86.8 | −1.4% |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.3 | −0.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 56.1 | 52.4 | −6.6% |
| Utilities | 88.4 | 87.7 | −0.7% |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.3 | +0.1% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,273 | $1,516 | +19.1% |
| Typical home value | $198,000 | $193,000 | −2.2% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Rocky Mount | $75,000 | $73,900 | −1.4% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Rocky Mount and Florence has narrowed since 2008: 4.2 points then, 1.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Rocky Mount, NC
- Florence, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rocky Mount, NC | Florence, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 88.7 | 84.5 |
| 2009 | 88.5 | 85.2 |
| 2010 | 89.7 | 87.3 |
| 2011 | 91.2 | 88.6 |
| 2012 | 89.1 | 89.6 |
| 2013 | 89.9 | 88.8 |
| 2014 | 89.1 | 88.4 |
| 2015 | 90.7 | 89.9 |
| 2016 | 87.8 | 89.5 |
| 2017 | 89.9 | 88.7 |
| 2018 | 86.2 | 88.1 |
| 2019 | 84.0 | 87.6 |
| 2020 | 83.8 | 86.4 |
| 2021 | 87.6 | 90.5 |
| 2022 | 87.4 | 87.8 |
| 2023 | 88.3 | 88.2 |
| 2024 | 88.0 | 86.8 |
Goods
- Rocky Mount, NC
- Florence, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rocky Mount, NC | Florence, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.4 | 96.5 |
| 2009 | 95.4 | 93.9 |
| 2010 | 97.0 | 96.7 |
| 2011 | 97.0 | 95.9 |
| 2012 | 97.2 | 94.8 |
| 2013 | 97.1 | 95.6 |
| 2014 | 97.4 | 95.6 |
| 2015 | 96.5 | 94.6 |
| 2016 | 97.2 | 95.4 |
| 2017 | 97.1 | 95.0 |
| 2018 | 95.7 | 95.3 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.4 | 95.4 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 96.1 |
| 2022 | 95.6 | 94.5 |
| 2023 | 96.8 | 95.9 |
| 2024 | 96.6 | 96.3 |
Housing (rents)
- Rocky Mount, NC
- Florence, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rocky Mount, NC | Florence, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 54.6 | 43.8 |
| 2009 | 59.9 | 51.6 |
| 2010 | 57.0 | 52.4 |
| 2011 | 61.8 | 55.5 |
| 2012 | 55.7 | 56.9 |
| 2013 | 59.1 | 55.3 |
| 2014 | 54.3 | 54.2 |
| 2015 | 59.1 | 57.1 |
| 2016 | 49.1 | 54.5 |
| 2017 | 58.5 | 58.1 |
| 2018 | 46.8 | 56.2 |
| 2019 | 45.6 | 58.3 |
| 2020 | 51.4 | 55.8 |
| 2021 | 51.5 | 61.0 |
| 2022 | 50.7 | 54.1 |
| 2023 | 51.8 | 57.2 |
| 2024 | 56.1 | 52.4 |
Utilities
- Rocky Mount, NC
- Florence, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rocky Mount, NC | Florence, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 88.2 | 86.0 |
| 2009 | 88.3 | 87.1 |
| 2010 | 89.9 | 88.9 |
| 2011 | 89.3 | 91.1 |
| 2012 | 91.5 | 94.8 |
| 2013 | 90.9 | 94.5 |
| 2014 | 90.4 | 97.4 |
| 2015 | 90.4 | 98.2 |
| 2016 | 88.0 | 97.4 |
| 2017 | 84.9 | 95.3 |
| 2018 | 87.2 | 93.3 |
| 2019 | 89.5 | 95.9 |
| 2020 | 88.1 | 93.6 |
| 2021 | 85.4 | 90.5 |
| 2022 | 82.5 | 89.4 |
| 2023 | 84.5 | 85.6 |
| 2024 | 88.4 | 87.7 |
Other services
- Rocky Mount, NC
- Florence, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rocky Mount, NC | Florence, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.8 | 97.3 |
| 2009 | 98.2 | 96.1 |
| 2010 | 99.7 | 97.8 |
| 2011 | 101.2 | 99.1 |
| 2012 | 100.8 | 99.6 |
| 2013 | 100.3 | 99.7 |
| 2014 | 100.6 | 99.6 |
| 2015 | 101.1 | 99.9 |
| 2016 | 102.3 | 100.1 |
| 2017 | 100.5 | 98.3 |
| 2018 | 98.3 | 97.9 |
| 2019 | 95.8 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.5 | 95.0 |
| 2021 | 99.6 | 99.9 |
| 2022 | 99.7 | 99.4 |
| 2023 | 98.7 | 97.9 |
| 2024 | 98.2 | 98.3 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,516 in Florence vs $1,273 in Rocky Mount
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Rocky Mount, NC
- Florence, SC
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Rocky Mount, NC | Florence, SC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | $1,023 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | $1,032 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | $1,038 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | $1,039 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | $1,069 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | $1,089 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | – | $1,091 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | $1,138 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | – | $1,144 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | – | $1,195 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | – | $1,210 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $959 | $1,223 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,007 | $1,274 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,047 | $1,333 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | – | $1,325 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,083 | $1,343 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,130 | $1,373 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,106 | $1,375 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,105 | $1,364 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,160 | $1,382 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,171 | $1,445 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,193 | $1,450 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,172 | $1,434 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,208 | $1,474 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,242 | $1,485 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,226 | $1,508 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,229 | $1,474 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,211 | $1,513 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,244 | $1,503 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,273 | $1,516 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $193,000 in Florence vs $198,000 in Rocky Mount
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Rocky Mount, NC
- Florence, SC
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Rocky Mount, NC | Florence, SC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $99K | $112K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $101K | $113K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $101K | $114K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $102K | $115K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $103K | $116K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $102K | $117K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $101K | $118K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $103K | $119K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $105K | $118K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $106K | $118K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $107K | $119K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $109K | $120K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $110K | $121K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $111K | $123K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $112K | $124K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $115K | $124K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $116K | $127K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $117K | $128K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $117K | $129K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $120K | $130K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $123K | $131K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $125K | $133K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $130K | $135K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $139K | $141K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $146K | $146K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $153K | $152K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $153K | $155K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $155K | $160K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $166K | $166K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $177K | $172K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $183K | $176K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $184K | $176K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $182K | $175K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $187K | $177K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $191K | $177K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $194K | $180K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $196K | $180K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $201K | $182K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $201K | $183K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $199K | $184K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $199K | $185K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $196K | $183K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $195K | $183K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $195K | $187K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $197K | $191K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $198K | $193K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $198K | $193K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.