Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, few states match North Carolina's value. 8 out of 9 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Greensboro at index 94, where median rent of $1,382/month saves renters $6,156/year versus the national median.
Dollar for dollar, few states match North Carolina's value. 8 out of 9 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Greensboro at index 94, where median rent of $1,382/month saves renters $6,156/year versus the national median.
Here's Greensboro by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 94. Rent: $1,382/month — for better or worse — . Income: $58,884/year. Home price: $261,036. Population: 302,296. The strongest category is Housing at 85; the most expensive is Healthcare at 97. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $6,156 per year vs. the national median. When healthcare costs are this low, the savings ripple across every other category. Worth a deeper look.
On a $150K salary, the key number is $3,750/month — and yes, that's adjusted for the region — — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. And in most cases, greensboro ($1,382/mo, 11%), Fayetteville ($1,426/mo, 11%), Winston-Salem ($1,445/mo, 12%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $102,733 to $102,733/year across these top picks.
Surprising? Maybe. But the data's clear.
That said, North Carolina — Research Triangle tech boom meets Appalachian affordability. And on balance, the 9 cities we track here average a cost index of 101 and median income of $74,175. It's a clear buyer's market compared to national norms. The typical rent runs $1,552/month, which is $343 less than the national median.
Bottom line: Greensboro leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Greensboro — cost index 94, rent $1,382/mo, income $58,884
9 of 9 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greensboro | $1,382 | 11% | 94 | Details |
| 2 | Fayetteville | $1,426 | 11% | 93 | Details |
| 3 | Winston-Salem | $1,445 | 12% | 95 | Details |
| 4 | High Point | $1,469 | 12% | 95 | Details |
| 5 | Raleigh | $1,567 | 13% | 105 | Details |
| 6 | Cary | $1,649 | 13% | 115 | Details |
| 7 | Durham | $1,651 | 13% | 104 | Details |
| 8 | Wilmington | $1,670 | 13% | 105 | Details |
| 9 | Charlotte | $1,705 | 14% | 105 | Details |
302,296 residents · North Carolina
Here's Greensboro by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 94. Rent: $1,382/month. Income: $58,884/year. Home price: $261,036. Population: 302,296. Fairly typical for a city this size. The strongest category is Housing at 85; the most expensive is Healthcare at 97. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $6,156 per year vs. the national median. This is where the math gets real for actual people (more on that below). Not even close to the national average.
209,749 residents · North Carolina
At $1,426/month for rent and a cost index of 93, Fayetteville is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. Income is $56,395. Fairly typical for a city this size (which, to be fair, is a metric that favors smaller cities). One to watch.
252,975 residents · North Carolina
Here's the thing: What does daily life actually cost in Winston-Salem? Start with the 30% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. And for many people, on the category level, Utilities (index 87) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 98) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $57,673 and homes at $260,277 round out a profile that ranks #3 for clear reasons (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
116,926 residents · North Carolina
Let's be clear: What does daily life actually cost in High Point? Start with the 29% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. On the category level, Utilities (index 87) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 98) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $61,228 and homes at $246,725 round out a profile that ranks #4 for clear reasons. The definition of value.
482,295 residents · North Carolina
What does daily life actually cost in Raleigh? Start with the 23% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Utilities (index 96) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 112) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $82,424 — though some people might weigh that differently — and homes at $428,831 round out a profile that ranks #5 for clear reasons (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes). The math checks out.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Greensboro | 4.5% | 6.98% | 0.7% | $102,733 |
2Fayetteville | 4.5% | 6.98% | 0.7% | $102,733 |
3Winston-Salem | 4.5% | 6.98% | 0.7% | $102,733 |
4High Point | 4.5% | 6.98% | 0.7% | $102,733 |
5Raleigh | 4.5% | 6.98% | 0.7% | $102,733 |
6Cary | 4.5% | 6.98% | 0.7% | $102,733 |
7Durham | 4.5% | 6.98% | 0.7% | $102,733 |
8Wilmington | 4.5% | 6.98% | 0.7% | $102,733 |
9Charlotte | 4.5% | 6.98% | 0.7% | $102,733 |
Greensboro ranks #1 in North Carolina for this analysis with a cost index of 94 and median income of $58,884.
Yes. On a $150K salary in Greensboro, rent would consume about 11% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Greensboro (ranked #1) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,382/mo, while Charlotte (ranked #9) has a cost index of 105 and rent of $1,705/mo — a 11-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Greensboro is $1,382/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $513 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 4.5% state income tax, estimated take-home on $150K in Greensboro is approximately $102,733/year ($8,561/month). After median rent of $1,382/month, you'd have roughly $86,149/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Greensboro is $261,036, which is 4.4× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
North Carolina has a 4.5% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 6.98%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.7%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.