What is the cost of living in Albemarle, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Albemarle has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Albemarle has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Albemarle ranks as #17 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Albemarle ranks as the #142 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Albemarle, check out:
Albemarle Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Albemarle. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Albemarle is 99.
The Groceries index in Albemarle is 98.
The Health index in Albemarle is 75.
The Housing index in Albemarle is 95.
The Transportation index in Albemarle is 99.
The Utilities index in Albemarle is 100.
| Living Expense | Albemarle | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 75 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
Albemarle Cost Of Living Compared To North Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In North Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In North Carolina
- Average Rent In North Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Albemarle, NC Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Carolina, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Albemarle is $261,947.
The Median Rent in Albemarle is $880.
The Median Income in Albemarle is $46,881.
The Home Value To Income in Albemarle is 5.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Albemarle is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Albemarle | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $261,947 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $880 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $46,881 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.6x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Albemarle, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Albemarle Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Albemarle | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.67 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.63 | $18 |
| Haircut | $30.02 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $39.6 | $45.56 |
Detailed Albemarle Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Albemarle | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.12 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.55 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.66 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.3 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.64 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.31 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Albemarle Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Albemarle | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $131.75 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.27 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $130.26 | $113.29 |
Detailed Albemarle Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Albemarle | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.19 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.92 | $59.92 |
Detailed Albemarle Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Albemarle | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $160.96 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.97 | $192.25 |
Albemarle SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Albemarle
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Albemarle. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Indian Trail, NC has a cost of living index of 111, 1.2x Albemarle.
Cornelius, NC has a cost of living index of 124, 1.4x Albemarle.
Matthews, NC has a cost of living index of 117, 1.3x Albemarle.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Albemarle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Trail, NC | 42,036 | 111 | 1.2x |
| Cornelius, NC | 32,783 | 124 | 1.4x |
| Matthews, NC | 30,577 | 117 | 1.3x |
| Clemmons, NC | 21,871 | 108 | 1.2x |
| Harrisburg, NC | 19,633 | 117 | 1.3x |
| Stallings, NC | 16,886 | 114 | 1.3x |
| Davidson, NC | 15,660 | 131 | 1.5x |
| Weddington, NC | 13,805 | 146 | 1.6x |
| Wesley Chapel, NC | 9,090 | 127 | 1.4x |
| Marvin, NC | 6,692 | 183 | 2.1x |
