What is the cost of living in Bessemer City, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bessemer City has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Bessemer City has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Bessemer City ranks as #17 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Bessemer City ranks as the #142 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Bessemer City, check out:
Bessemer City Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Bessemer City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Bessemer City is 97.
The Groceries index in Bessemer City is 97.
The Health index in Bessemer City is 69.
The Housing index in Bessemer City is 97.
The Transportation index in Bessemer City is 102.
The Utilities index in Bessemer City is 98.
| Living Expense | Bessemer City | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 69 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Bessemer City 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
Bessemer City, 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 Bessemer City is $235,411.
The Median Rent in Bessemer City is $1,053.
The Median Income in Bessemer City is $60,300.
The Home Value To Income in Bessemer City is 3.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Bessemer City is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Bessemer City | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $235,411 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,053 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $60,300 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.9x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Bessemer City, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Bessemer City Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Bessemer City | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.55 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $59.75 | $45.56 |
Detailed Bessemer City Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Bessemer City | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.27 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.96 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.47 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Bessemer City Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Bessemer City | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $143.74 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $148.29 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.52 | $113.29 |
Detailed Bessemer City Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Bessemer City | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.32 | $59.92 |
Detailed Bessemer City Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Bessemer City | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $167.89 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.9 | $192.25 |
