What is the cost of living in Black Mountain, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Black Mountain has an overall cost of living index of 108, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Black Mountain has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Black Mountain ranks as #107 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Black Mountain ranks as the #52 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Black Mountain, check out:
Black Mountain Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Black Mountain. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Black Mountain is 103.
The Groceries index in Black Mountain is 100.
The Health index in Black Mountain is 130.
The Housing index in Black Mountain is 100.
The Transportation index in Black Mountain is 96.
The Utilities index in Black Mountain is 105.
| Living Expense | Black Mountain | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 108 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 130 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 105 | 101 | 100 |
Black Mountain 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
Black Mountain, 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 Black Mountain is $463,738.
The Median Rent in Black Mountain is $1,652.
The Median Income in Black Mountain is $77,042.
The Home Value To Income in Black Mountain is 6.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Black Mountain is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Black Mountain | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $463,738 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,652 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $77,042 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.0x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Black Mountain, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Black Mountain Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Black Mountain | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.33 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.07 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.89 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.22 | $45.56 |
Detailed Black Mountain Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Black Mountain | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.46 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.27 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.44 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.44 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.8 | $3.7 |
Detailed Black Mountain Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Black Mountain | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $155.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $166.73 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $113.89 | $113.29 |
Detailed Black Mountain Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Black Mountain | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $49.99 | $59.92 |
Detailed Black Mountain Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Black Mountain | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $221.84 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
Black Mountain SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Black Mountain
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Black Mountain. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Asheville, NC has a cost of living index of 115, 1.1x Black Mountain.
Taylors, SC has a cost of living index of 99, 0.9x Black Mountain.
Hendersonville, NC has a cost of living index of 102, 0.9x Black Mountain.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Black Mountain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | 94,535 | 115 | 1.1x |
| Taylors, SC | 24,505 | 99 | 0.9x |
| Hendersonville, NC | 15,408 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Boiling Springs, SC | 12,936 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Waynesville, NC | 10,502 | 98 | 0.9x |
| Fletcher, NC | 8,098 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Woodfin, NC | 8,048 | 112 | 1.0x |
| Etowah, NC | 7,968 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Brevard, NC | 7,897 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Mills River, NC | 7,281 | 113 | 1.0x |
