What is the cost of living in Boone, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Boone has an overall cost of living index of 107, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Boone has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Boone ranks as #103 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Boone ranks as the #56 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Boone, check out:
Boone Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Boone. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Boone is 100.
The Groceries index in Boone is 103.
The Health index in Boone is 136.
The Housing index in Boone is 96.
The Transportation index in Boone is 99.
The Utilities index in Boone is 98.
| Living Expense | Boone | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 107 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 136 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Boone 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
Boone, 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 Boone is $483,788.
The Median Rent in Boone is $1,111.
The Median Income in Boone is $30,065.
The Home Value To Income in Boone is 16.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Boone is 0.44x.
| Statistic | Boone | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $483,788 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,111 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $30,065 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 16.1x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.44x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Boone, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Boone Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Boone | 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 Boone Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Boone | 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 Boone Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Boone | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $155.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $166.73 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $113.89 | $113.29 |
Detailed Boone Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Boone | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $49.99 | $59.92 |
Detailed Boone Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Boone | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $221.84 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
Boone SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Boone
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Boone. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Hickory, NC has a cost of living index of 100, 0.9x Boone.
Bristol, TN has a cost of living index of 93, 0.9x Boone.
Morganton, NC has a cost of living index of 92, 0.9x Boone.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Boone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NC | 44,258 | 100 | 0.9x |
| Bristol, TN | 27,636 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Morganton, NC | 17,646 | 92 | 0.9x |
| Bristol, VA | 16,849 | 88 | 0.8x |
| Elizabethton, TN | 14,374 | 89 | 0.8x |
| St. Stephens, NC | 9,457 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Conover, NC | 8,580 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Jonesborough, TN | 6,232 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Erwin, TN | 5,988 | 87 | 0.8x |
| Sawmills, NC | 5,042 | 89 | 0.8x |
