North Carolina Cost of Living & Rents (2026)
Compare HUD Fair Market Rents, living wages, and composite living cost indices across all 27 benchmark metropolitan areas in North Carolina.
Data updated · Sources: HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget · Methodology
Metropolitan Areas in North Carolina
| Metro Area | COL Index | HUD 1BR Rent | HUD 2BR Rent | Living Wage | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 137.2 | $1,640/mo | $1,785/mo | $30.34/hr | View |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 136.2 | $1,552/mo | $1,689/mo | $30.13/hr | View |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 135.4 | $1,554/mo | $1,745/mo | $29.95/hr | View |
| Asheville, NC | 124.1 | $1,714/mo | $1,866/mo | $27.45/hr | View |
| Iredell County, NC | 119.6 | $1,313/mo | $1,429/mo | $26.44/hr | View |
| Gates County, NC | 117.9 | $1,489/mo | $1,665/mo | $26.08/hr | View |
| Camden County, NC | 115.6 | $1,220/mo | $1,364/mo | $25.56/hr | View |
| Brunswick County, NC | 112.9 | $1,446/mo | $1,574/mo | $24.97/hr | View |
| Lincoln County, NC | 111.6 | $1,045/mo | $1,138/mo | $24.68/hr | View |
| Wilmington, NC | 111.2 | $1,566/mo | $1,705/mo | $24.60/hr | View |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | 111.2 | $1,116/mo | $1,223/mo | $24.58/hr | View |
| Rowan County, NC | 109.6 | $1,012/mo | $1,262/mo | $24.25/hr | View |
| Fayetteville, NC | 108.0 | $1,334/mo | $1,476/mo | $23.88/hr | View |
| Goldsboro, NC | 105.7 | $964/mo | $1,261/mo | $23.37/hr | View |
| Jacksonville, NC | 104.5 | $1,073/mo | $1,319/mo | $23.12/hr | View |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 104.4 | $1,168/mo | $1,271/mo | $23.09/hr | View |
| Greenville, NC | 103.6 | $967/mo | $1,167/mo | $22.92/hr | View |
| Pender County, NC | 103.5 | $1,101/mo | $1,199/mo | $22.89/hr | View |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 102.6 | $1,224/mo | $1,332/mo | $22.69/hr | View |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 101.6 | $972/mo | $1,167/mo | $22.48/hr | View |
| Anson County, NC | 101.5 | $895/mo | $1,143/mo | $22.46/hr | View |
| Burlington, NC | 100.5 | $1,238/mo | $1,348/mo | $22.23/hr | View |
| Person County, NC | 99.6 | $805/mo | $1,012/mo | $22.03/hr | View |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 99.4 | $965/mo | $1,147/mo | $21.98/hr | View |
| Hoke County, NC | 97.5 | $903/mo | $1,150/mo | $21.56/hr | View |
| Davidson County, NC | 95.8 | $999/mo | $1,087/mo | $21.17/hr | View |
| Rockingham County, NC | 92.7 | $774/mo | $1,012/mo | $20.49/hr | View |
Comprehensive 2026 cost of living analysis for North Carolina. Compare HUD Fair Market Rents, living wages, state income tax impact, & metropolitan living. Official 2026 economic data for North Carolina compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
Its metros average a cost-of-living index of 109.8 (U.S. = 100), from EPI family budgets. Average one-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent across its metros is about $1,187 a month.
The average living wage for a single adult in North Carolina is approximately $24.27/hour, while a family with two adults and one child requires roughly $20.67/hour to cover basic necessities.