What is the cost of living in Burlington, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Burlington has an overall cost of living index of 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Burlington has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Burlington ranks as #47 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Burlington ranks as the #112 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Burlington, check out:
Burlington Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Burlington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Burlington is 99.
The Groceries index in Burlington is 101.
The Health index in Burlington is 78.
The Housing index in Burlington is 98.
The Transportation index in Burlington is 102.
The Utilities index in Burlington is 97.
| Living Expense | Burlington | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 78 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 101 | 100 |
Burlington 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
Burlington, 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 Burlington is $256,022.
The Median Rent in Burlington is $1,051.
The Median Income in Burlington is $56,880.
The Home Value To Income in Burlington is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Burlington is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Burlington | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $256,022 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,051 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $56,880 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.5x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Burlington, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Burlington Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Burlington | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.24 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.0 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.33 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $37.66 | $45.56 |
Detailed Burlington Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Burlington | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.17 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.42 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.49 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.0 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.41 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.25 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.67 | $3.7 |
Detailed Burlington Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Burlington | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $146.78 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $97.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed Burlington Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Burlington | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.31 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $54.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Burlington Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Burlington | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $161.71 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
Burlington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Burlington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Burlington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Greensboro, NC has a cost of living index of 99, 1.1x Burlington.
Mebane, NC has a cost of living index of 103, 1.1x Burlington.
Graham, NC has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Burlington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro, NC | 301,198 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Mebane, NC | 19,538 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Graham, NC | 18,048 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Elon, NC | 11,032 | 114 | 1.2x |
| Gibsonville, NC | 9,467 | 98 | 1.0x |
