Cost of living in North Carolina
Prices in North Carolina are 5.7% below the US average (31st highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $2,484 in state income tax. State sales tax: 4.75%.
Price levels in North Carolina
| BEA RPP 2024 | North Carolina | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 94.3 | −5.7% |
| Goods | 96.6 | −3.4% |
| Housing (rents) | 81.4 | −18.6% |
| Utilities | 88.6 | −11.4% |
| Other services | 98.2 | −1.8% |
Metros in North Carolina
Metros whose principal city is in North Carolina. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC-SC | 2,938,830 | 97.3 | $1,785 | $284 | $821 |
| Raleigh, NC | 1,595,720 | 98.2 | $1,689 | $307 | $909 |
| Greensboro, NC | 805,945 | 92.9 | $1,271 | $227 | $1,293 |
| Winston, NC | 712,206 | 92.0 | $1,332 | $203 | $1,237 |
| Durham, NC | 625,485 | 97.6 | $1,745 | $317 | $907 |
| Wilmington, NC | 492,772 | 96.4 | $1,705 | $223 | $895 |
| Asheville, NC | 422,345 | 96.5 | $1,866 | $191 | $747 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 395,412 | 92.0 | $1,476 | $183 | $1,127 |
| Hickory, NC | 376,890 | 88.5 | $1,147 | $183 | $1,496 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 217,175 | 92.1 | $1,319 | $203 | $1,388 |
| Burlington, NC | 186,177 | 93.2 | $1,348 | $145 | $1,223 |
| Greenville, NC | 182,936 | 88.4 | $1,167 | $208 | $1,494 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 148,486 | 88.0 | $1,167 | $157 | $1,489 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 122,278 | 88.5 | $1,261 | $153 | $1,497 |
| Pinehurst, NC | 110,619 | 88.3 | $1,223 | $189 | $1,345 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Also partly in North Carolina: Virginia Beach, VA-NC.
Taxes in North Carolina (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| North Carolina income tax | $1,486 | $2,484 | $4,279 | $3,771 |
| North Carolina payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,406 | $4,926 | $7,414 | $8,451 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, North Carolina’s income and payroll taxes cost $2,484 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across North Carolina
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $181 | $11,494 | $151 |
| Toddler (2) | $142 | $9,010 | $135 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $123 | $7,845 | $125 |
| School-age (5–12) | $73 | $4,621 | $86 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $109 a week in Tyrrell County to $355 in Orange County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 99 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edgecombe County | $125,100 | $1,306 | 1.04% |
| Cumberland County | $199,200 | $1,850 | 0.93% |
| Orange County | $459,500 | $4,162 | 0.91% |
| Guilford County | $259,900 | $2,174 | 0.84% |
| Pitt County | $208,900 | $1,734 | 0.83% |
| Brunswick County | $349,800 | $1,890 | 0.54% |
| Moore County | $351,400 | $1,849 | 0.53% |
| Henderson County | $351,400 | $1,810 | 0.52% |
| Madison County | $284,600 | $1,362 | 0.48% |
| Currituck County | $378,800 | $1,760 | 0.46% |
Five highest and five lowest of 45 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from North Carolina
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 299,782 in, 241,172 out (net +58,610).
- Florida33,591 ±4,724
- South Carolina29,982 ±4,618
- Virginia28,409 ±5,573
- Georgia19,031 ±4,094
- California18,428 ±4,002
- New York17,978 ±3,464
- Texas16,498 ±3,764
- Pennsylvania13,261 ±3,306
Frequently asked questions
Is North Carolina expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put North Carolina’s overall price level at 94.3 in 2024 (US = 100), the 31st highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 81.4 and goods 96.6.
Does North Carolina have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $2,484 in North Carolina income tax under 2026 law (3.3% of pay).
What is the sales tax in North Carolina?+
The state rate is 4.75% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in North Carolina?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Goldsboro, NC leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,497), and Asheville, NC the least ($747).