What is the cost of living in Apex, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Apex has an overall cost of living index of 121, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Apex has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Apex ranks as #139 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Apex ranks as the #20 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Apex, check out:
Apex Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Apex. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Apex is 100.
The Groceries index in Apex is 102.
The Health index in Apex is 175.
The Housing index in Apex is 100.
The Transportation index in Apex is 99.
The Utilities index in Apex is 98.
| Living Expense | Apex | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 121 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 175 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Apex 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
Apex, 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 Apex is $599,084.
The Median Rent in Apex is $1,902.
The Median Income in Apex is $144,135.
The Home Value To Income in Apex is 4.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Apex is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Apex | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $599,084 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,902 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $144,135 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.2x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Apex, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Apex Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Apex | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.09 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.27 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $11.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $19.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $29.58 | $45.56 |
Detailed Apex Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Apex | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.93 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.59 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.57 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.18 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.47 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.29 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.65 | $3.7 |
Detailed Apex Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Apex | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Apex Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Apex | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Apex Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Apex | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Apex SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Apex
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Apex. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Raleigh, NC has a cost of living index of 116, 1.0x Apex.
Durham, NC has a cost of living index of 111, 0.9x Apex.
Cary, NC has a cost of living index of 123, 1.0x Apex.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Apex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Durham, NC | 291,467 | 111 | 0.9x |
| Cary, NC | 179,306 | 123 | 1.0x |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 61,607 | 133 | 1.1x |
| Holly Springs, NC | 45,248 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Fuquay-Varina, NC | 40,485 | 112 | 0.9x |
| Garner, NC | 34,473 | 104 | 0.9x |
| Morrisville, NC | 31,422 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Carrboro, NC | 21,204 | 128 | 1.1x |
| Angier, NC | 6,241 | 96 | 0.8x |
