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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
North Carolina is a genuine bargain: 8 of the 9 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Greensboro leads at an index of 94 with rent at just $1,382/month — 27% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
#1 Ranked: Greensboro — cost index 94, rent $1,382/mo, income $58,884
Greensboro rent up 3% over the past year
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
North Carolina is a genuine bargain: 8 of the 9 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Greensboro leads at an index of 94 with rent at just $1,382/month — 27% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
The utilities sub-index is derived from overall cost of living with regional BLS price adjustments. A score of 93 (the top-10 average here) means utilities costs are about 7% below the national median. Greensboro leads at 86, followed by Fayetteville (86) and Winston-Salem (87). Note: a low utilities index doesn't guarantee a low overall cost — check the full cost breakdown table below.
Dive into Greensboro's numbers: cost index 94 (18 points below national average), rent $1,382/month, income $58,884, and a home price of $261,036. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 85, while Healthcare runs 97. With 302,296 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
Greensboro rent up 3% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked Greensboro has increased from $1,343 to $1,382/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is.
What to do with this data: use the ranking as a shortlist, then dig into the city profiles for trend lines and category breakdowns. The difference between #1 and #5 is often smaller than the difference between "good on paper" and "actually fits my life." Compare your top picks with our calculator to see real take-home numbers.
| Rank | City | Utilities Index | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greensboro | 86 | 94 | $1,382 | Details |
| 2 | Fayetteville | 86 | 93 | $1,426 | Details |
| 3 | Winston-Salem | 87 | 95 | $1,445 | Details |
| 4 | High Point | 87 | 95 | $1,469 | Details |
| 5 | Raleigh | 96 | 105 | $1,567 | Details |
| 6 | Durham | 96 | 104 | $1,651 | Details |
| 7 | Charlotte | 97 | 105 | $1,705 | Details |
| 8 | Wilmington | 97 | 105 | $1,670 | Details |
| 9 | Cary | 106 | 115 | $1,649 | Details |
302,296 residents · North Carolina
Greensboro earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 94 cost index sits 18 points below the national baseline, and the $58,884 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $261,036 — $206,334 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 85, while Healthcare trails at 97.
209,749 residents · North Carolina
Why Fayetteville ranks #2: the numbers tell a clear story. At 93 on the cost index, residents save roughly 19% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,426/month while the median household pulls in $56,395/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 82, though Healthcare (96) lags behind. Home prices average $222,766 — $244,604 below the national median.
252,975 residents · North Carolina
Dive into Winston-Salem's numbers: cost index 95 (17 points below national average), rent $1,445/month, income $57,673, and a home price of $260,277. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 87, while Healthcare runs 98. With 252,975 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
116,926 residents · North Carolina
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.
482,295 residents · North Carolina
Raleigh is one of the cheaper options here. And for many people, rent is $1,567/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 105. Income sits at $82,424. About what you'd guess.
Greensboro ranks #1 in North Carolina for this analysis with a cost index of 94 and median income of $58,884.
Greensboro, NC has the lowest utilities index at 86, compared to the national average of 100.
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 Cary (ranked #9) has a cost index of 115 and rent of $1,649/mo — a 21-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.
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.