What is the cost of living in Carolina Beach, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Carolina Beach has an overall cost of living index of 122, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Carolina Beach has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Carolina Beach ranks as #142 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Carolina Beach ranks as the #17 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Carolina Beach, check out:
Carolina Beach Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Carolina Beach. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Carolina Beach is 97.
The Groceries index in Carolina Beach is 99.
The Health index in Carolina Beach is 174.
The Housing index in Carolina Beach is 99.
The Transportation index in Carolina Beach is 101.
The Utilities index in Carolina Beach is 99.
| Living Expense | Carolina Beach | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 122 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 174 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 101 | 100 |
Carolina Beach 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
Carolina Beach, 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 Carolina Beach is $606,035.
The Median Rent in Carolina Beach is $1,513.
The Median Income in Carolina Beach is $94,398.
The Home Value To Income in Carolina Beach is 6.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Carolina Beach is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Carolina Beach | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $606,035 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,513 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $94,398 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.4x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Carolina Beach, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Carolina Beach Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Carolina Beach | 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 Carolina Beach Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Carolina Beach | 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 Carolina Beach Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Carolina Beach | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Carolina Beach Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Carolina Beach | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Carolina Beach Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Carolina Beach | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Carolina Beach SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Carolina Beach
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Carolina Beach. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Wilmington, NC has a cost of living index of 108, 0.9x Carolina Beach.
Leland, NC has a cost of living index of 110, 0.9x Carolina Beach.
Murraysville, NC has a cost of living index of 106, 0.9x Carolina Beach.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Carolina Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NC | 120,805 | 108 | 0.9x |
| Leland, NC | 29,607 | 110 | 0.9x |
| Murraysville, NC | 16,339 | 106 | 0.9x |
| Myrtle Grove, NC | 12,637 | 114 | 0.9x |
| Kings Grant, NC | 9,003 | 102 | 0.8x |
| Ogden, NC | 8,249 | 122 | 1.0x |
| Porters Neck, NC | 7,654 | 124 | 1.0x |
| Silver Lake, NC | 6,563 | 98 | 0.8x |
| Boiling Spring Lakes, NC | 6,347 | 99 | 0.8x |
