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Cost of living in North Carolina

Statewide averages from BEA, with every metro area in the state compared.

Overall prices vs US average 94.3 5.7% less expensive than the US officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Rank among 51 states and DC 31st 1st = most expensive derivedFrom BEA, 2024
Housing (rents) vs US average 81.4 30th highest housing costs officialBEA, 2024. US = 100
Income per person, adjusted for prices $56,310 33rd of 51, in 2017 dollars officialBEA real personal income, 2024

What the numbers say

  • Overall prices in North Carolina are 5.7% below the national average, the 31st most expensive of 51 states and DC (BEA 2024).
  • Housing is the main reason prices in North Carolina differ from the national level: housing costs (rents) are 18.6% below the US average, while goods are 3.4% below average and other services 1.8% below average.
  • Compared with the rest of the country, North Carolina has become more expensive since 2019: the index went from 91.9 to 94.3, and its rank from 40th to 31st most expensive. Housing in North Carolina moved most, from 75.4 to 81.4.
  • Within North Carolina, metro price levels run from 88.0 in Rocky Mount, NC to 98.2 in Raleigh, NC (US = 100).
  • After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $56,310 in 2017 dollars, 33rd of 51 (BEA 2024).

Written from this page's own figures. Price levels are for an average household basket and do not include taxes. How we calculate.

Where the money goes

Statewide price levels by category. Cities and rural areas within the state can differ a lot; see the metro table below.

In North Carolina, housing is the category furthest from the US average: 18.6% below

Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.

All items
94.3
Goods
96.6
Housing (rents)
81.4
Utilities
88.6
Other services
98.2

Bars to the right of the line cost more than the US average; to the left, less.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
North Carolina
All items94.3
Goods96.6
Housing (rents)81.4
Utilities88.6
Other services98.2

Gas prices

Regular gasoline averaged $3.86 a gallon in the Lower Atlantic region in the week of October 19, 2026, $0.42 less than the US average of $4.28. EIA does not publish a separate weekly figure for North Carolina, so this is the regional average. official

Work out your commute's gas cost

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly retail gasoline prices, regular grade, including taxes.

Cheapest places to live in North Carolina

By overall prices, the cheapest of the 16 metro areas BEA measures in North Carolina are Rocky Mount, NC (88.0), Pinehurst, NC (88.3) and Greenville, NC (88.4); the most expensive is Raleigh, NC (98.2). US average = 100, BEA 2024. Rural areas are not listed separately.

Rocky Mount, NC is the cheapest metro area in North Carolina (88.0); Raleigh, NC the most expensive (98.2)

Overall price level, 2024. US average = 100.

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 Spans NC, SC
97.3
Durham, NC
97.6
Virginia Beach, VA Spans VA, NC
97.9
Raleigh, NC
98.2

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
All items
Rocky Mount, NC88.0
Pinehurst, NC88.3
Greenville, NC88.4
Goldsboro, NC88.5
Hickory, NC88.5
Fayetteville, NC92.0
Winston-Salem, NC92.0
Jacksonville, NC92.1
Greensboro, NC92.9
Burlington, NC93.2
Wilmington, NC96.4
Asheville, NC96.5
Charlotte, NC97.3
Durham, NC97.6
Virginia Beach, VA97.9
Raleigh, NC98.2
Metro area Overall Housing Goods Utilities Other services Typical rent
Rocky Mount, NC 88.0 56.1 96.6 88.4 98.2 $1,273
Pinehurst, NC 88.3 59.3 96.6 88.2 98.2 $1,861
Greenville, NC 88.4 57.3 96.6 87.3 98.2 $1,465
Goldsboro, NC 88.5 57.7 96.6 87.9 98.2 $1,519
Hickory, NC 88.5 59.6 96.6 87.8 98.2 $1,595
Fayetteville, NC 92.0 73.1 96.6 87.8 98.2 $1,454
Winston-Salem, NC 92.0 71.4 96.6 88.4 98.2 $1,529
Jacksonville, NC 92.1 72.1 96.6 87.2 98.2 $1,577
Greensboro, NC 92.9 74.5 96.6 89.1 98.2 $1,406
Burlington, NC 93.2 77.9 96.6 89.2 98.2 $1,339
Wilmington, NC 96.4 93.2 96.6 87.9 98.2 $1,744
Asheville, NC 96.5 93.4 96.6 88.6 98.2 $1,702
Charlotte, NC 97.3 97.6 96.6 89.2 98.2 $1,735
Durham, NC 97.6 98.9 96.6 89.3 98.2 $1,640
Virginia Beach, VA 97.9 99.8 96.8 89.6 98.6 $1,886
Raleigh, NC 98.2 103.5 96.6 89.0 98.2 $1,669

Price levels: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.

How prices have changed since 2008

Price levels relative to the whole country in each year, not inflation.

North Carolina has become more expensive relative to the US since 2008: 92.4 then, 94.3 now

Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.

US average = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
North Carolina
200892.4
200991.3
201092.9
201193.6
201293.5
201393.7
201493.8
201593.6
201693.8
201793.0
201892.9
201991.9
202091.3
202193.7
202294.0
202394.4
202494.3

Goods: 96.6 in 2008, 96.6 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
North Carolina
200896.6
200994.3
201096.9
201196.4
201295.6
201396.0
201495.7
201595.0
201695.9
201795.7
201895.7
201995.7
202095.4
202196.2
202295.6
202396.8
202496.6

Housing (rents): 74.3 in 2008, 81.4 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
North Carolina
200874.3
200975.3
201075.4
201176.3
201275.8
201376.0
201476.3
201575.8
201674.7
201775.5
201875.3
201975.4
202075.0
202176.0
202278.8
202380.8
202481.4

Utilities: 85.4 in 2008, 88.6 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
North Carolina
200885.4
200985.5
201087.6
201187.3
201290.5
201389.8
201490.4
201591.0
201688.4
201785.4
201886.8
201989.2
202087.7
202184.6
202282.5
202383.6
202488.6

Other services: 97.7 in 2008, 98.2 in 2024

US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
North Carolina
200897.7
200996.6
201098.1
201199.5
201299.9
2013100.0
2014100.2
2015100.3
2016100.7
201798.8
201898.3
201995.8
202095.5
202199.6
202299.7
202398.7
202498.2

What incomes buy here

BEA divides personal income by local prices, so a dollar in a cheap state counts for more. This is income per resident (wages, benefits, investment income), not household or take-home pay.

After adjusting for prices, income per person in North Carolina is $56,310, 33rd of 51

Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for local price levels and inflation).

  • North Carolina
  • United States

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.

Show the numbers
North CarolinaUnited States
2008$45,858$45,816
2009$44,321$44,204
2010$42,691$44,808
2011$42,462$45,957
2012$44,038$46,796
2013$42,463$46,358
2014$43,820$47,661
2015$45,796$49,396
2016$46,302$49,828
2017$47,646$51,006
2018$48,676$52,242
2019$50,966$53,683
2020$54,346$56,514
2021$56,146$59,365
2022$54,204$57,104
2023$54,748$58,088
2024$56,310$59,195

Compare North Carolina with other states

States with similar prices

All states ranked · States ranked by what income buys

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Sources and limits

  • Price levels and real income: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state, 2008–2024. Last updated February 19, 2026: new statistics for 2024; revised statistics for 2008-2023. Downloaded 2026-10-21.
  • Metro price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities by metro area. Typical rent: Data Provided by Zillow Group.
  • State figures average cities and rural areas. Taxes are not included. BEA figures lag by about 18 months.

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