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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, few states match North Carolina's value. And in most cases, 8 out of 9 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Fayetteville at index 93, where median rent of $1,426/month saves renters $5,628/year versus the national median.
Dollar for dollar, few states match North Carolina's value. And in most cases, 8 out of 9 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Fayetteville at index 93, where median rent of $1,426/month saves renters $5,628/year versus the national median.
Dive into Fayetteville's numbers: cost index 93 (19 points below national average), rent $1,426/month, income $56,395, and a home price of $222,766. That alone makes it worth considering. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 82, while Healthcare runs 96. With 209,749 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
Real talk: Bottom line: Fayetteville 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 (more on that below).
#1 Ranked: Fayetteville — cost index 93, rent $1,426/mo, income $56,395
8 of 9 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
209,749 residents · North Carolina
What does daily life actually cost in Fayetteville? Start with the 30% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Housing (index 82) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 96) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $56,395 and homes at $222,766 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
302,296 residents · North Carolina
Why Greensboro ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. And most of the time, at 94 on the cost index, residents save roughly 18% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,382/month while the median household pulls in $58,884/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 85, though Healthcare (97) lags behind. Home prices average $261,036 — $206,334 below the national median (that's pre-tax, of course).
252,975 residents · North Carolina
What does daily life actually cost in Winston-Salem? Start with the 30% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. 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.
116,926 residents · North Carolina
Here's High Point by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 95. Rent: $1,469/month. Income: $61,228/year. Home price: $246,725. Population: 116,926. The strongest category is Utilities at 87; the most expensive is Healthcare at 98. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $5,112 per year vs. the national median. Over a five-year window, that difference is life-changing.
296,186 residents · North Carolina
Durham earns its position at #5 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 104 cost index sits 8 points below the national baseline, and the $79,234 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $393,151 — $74,219 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 96, while Housing trails at 111.
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville | 93 | $1,426 | Details |
| 2 | Greensboro | 94 | $1,382 | Details |
| 3 | Winston-Salem | 95 | $1,445 | Details |
| 4 | High Point | 95 | $1,469 | Details |
| 5 | Durham | 104 | $1,651 | Details |
| 6 | Charlotte | 105 | $1,705 | Details |
| 7 | Raleigh | 105 | $1,567 | Details |
| 8 | Wilmington | 105 | $1,670 | Details |
| 9 | Cary | 115 | $1,649 | Details |
Cities are ranked by overall cost of living index in ascending order. This index weights housing (Zillow ZORI rent data) most heavily, with food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare sub-indices providing a composite picture. A score of 80 means overall costs are 20% below the national median. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Fayetteville ranks #1 in North Carolina for this analysis with a cost index of 93 and median income of $56,395.
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.
Fayetteville (ranked #1) has a cost index of 93 and rent of $1,426/mo, while Cary (ranked #9) has a cost index of 115 and rent of $1,649/mo — a 22-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 Fayetteville is $1,426/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $469 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Fayetteville is $222,766, which is 4.0× 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.