What is the cost of living in Carolina Shores, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Carolina Shores has an overall cost of living index of 109, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Carolina Shores has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Carolina Shores ranks as #110 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Carolina Shores ranks as the #49 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Carolina Shores, check out:
Carolina Shores Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Carolina Shores. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Carolina Shores is 101.
The Groceries index in Carolina Shores is 98.
The Health index in Carolina Shores is 133.
The Housing index in Carolina Shores is 99.
The Transportation index in Carolina Shores is 99.
The Utilities index in Carolina Shores is 96.
| Living Expense | Carolina Shores | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 109 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 133 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 101 | 100 |
Carolina Shores 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 Shores, 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 Shores is $319,365.
The Median Rent in Carolina Shores is $1,973.
The Median Income in Carolina Shores is $76,087.
The Home Value To Income in Carolina Shores is 4.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Carolina Shores is 0.31x.
| Statistic | Carolina Shores | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $319,365 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,973 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $76,087 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.2x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.31x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Carolina Shores, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Carolina Shores Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Carolina Shores | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $None | $1.28 |
| Movie | $None | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $None | $18 |
| Haircut | $None | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $None | $45.56 |
Detailed Carolina Shores Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Carolina Shores | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $None | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $None | $1.57 |
| Milk | $None | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $None | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $None | $12.09 |
| Beer | $None | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $None | $3.7 |
Detailed Carolina Shores Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Carolina Shores | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $None | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $None | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $None | $113.29 |
Detailed Carolina Shores Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Carolina Shores | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $None | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $None | $59.92 |
Detailed Carolina Shores Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Carolina Shores | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $None | $193.99 |
| Phone | $None | $192.25 |
Carolina Shores SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Carolina Shores
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Carolina Shores. 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, 1.0x Carolina Shores.
Leland, NC has a cost of living index of 110, 1.0x Carolina Shores.
North Myrtle Beach, SC has a cost of living index of 113, 1.0x Carolina Shores.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Carolina Shores |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NC | 120,805 | 108 | 1.0x |
| Leland, NC | 29,607 | 110 | 1.0x |
| North Myrtle Beach, SC | 19,855 | 113 | 1.0x |
| Murraysville, NC | 16,339 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Myrtle Grove, NC | 12,637 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Little River, SC | 11,771 | 97 | 0.9x |
| Murrells Inlet, SC | 10,044 | 108 | 1.0x |
| Kings Grant, NC | 9,003 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Carolina Beach, NC | 6,745 | 122 | 1.1x |
| Silver Lake, NC | 6,563 | 98 | 0.9x |
