Carrboro, NC Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Carrboro, NC Summary

Cost of living in Carrboro research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Carrboro is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in North Carolina, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Carrboro is 121, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Carrboro is 1.2x higher than the national average.

  • Carrboro ranks as the #139 cheapest in North Carolina out of 157.

  • Carrboro ranks as the #4,476 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Carrboro is $439,156.

  • The median income in Carrboro is $85,927.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
121
Carrboro's Overall Cost Of Living
1.2x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Carrboro, NC?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Carrboro has an overall cost of living index of 121, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to North Carolina, Carrboro has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than North Carolina's index of 92.

The standard of living in Carrboro ranks as #139 most affordable out of the 157 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Carrboro ranks as the #18 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.

For more reading on life in Carrboro, check out:

139 out of 157
In North Carolina
4,476 out of 6,489
In America

Carrboro Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Carrboro. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Carrboro is 94.

  • The Groceries index in Carrboro is 101.

  • The Health index in Carrboro is 104.

  • The Housing index in Carrboro is 184.

  • The Transportation index in Carrboro is 91.

  • The Utilities index in Carrboro is 92.

Living Expense Carrboro North Carolina National Average
Overall 121 92 100
Services 94 100 100
Groceries 101 99 100
Health 104 106 100
Housing 184 86 100
Transportation 91 93 100
Utilities 92 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
Carrboro Cost of Living Vs. NC

Carrboro, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Carrboro is $439,156.

  • The Median Rent in Carrboro is $1,337.

  • The Median Income in Carrboro is $85,927.

  • The Home Value To Income in Carrboro is 5.1x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Carrboro is 0.19x.

Statistic Carrboro North Carolina United States
Median Home Value $439,156 $332,681 $303,400
Median Rent $1,337 $1,162 $1,348
Median Income $85,927 $69,904 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.1x 4.8x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.19x 0.2x 0.21x
$439,156
Median Home Value
$1,337
Median Rent
$85,927
Median Income

Carrboro, NC Costs By Category

Detailed Carrboro Services Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Carrboro North Carolina
Shampoo $1.33 $1.28
Movie $12.19 $12.13
Bowling $20.0 $18
Haircut $28.2 $24.26
Beauty Salon $50.33 $45.56

Detailed Carrboro Groceries Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Carrboro North Carolina
Ground Beef $6.28 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.36 $1.57
Milk $4.64 $4.67
Potatoes $4.99 $4.93
Pizza $10.73 $12.09
Beer $10.46 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.85 $3.7

Detailed Carrboro Health Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Carrboro North Carolina
Optometrist $126.46 $125.68
Doctor $146.71 $135.78
Dentist $136.77 $113.29

Detailed Carrboro Transportation Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Carrboro North Carolina
Gasoline $3.32 $3.46
Tire Balancing $42.85 $59.92

Detailed Carrboro Utilities Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Carrboro North Carolina
All Electricity $161.71 $193.99
Phone $186.82 $192.25

Carrboro SnackAbility

8.5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
5
Diversity
8.5
Safety
6
Amenities
9
Education
9
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Carrboro

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Carrboro. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Durham, NC has a cost of living index of 107, 0.9x Carrboro.

  • Cary, NC has a cost of living index of 125, 1.0x Carrboro.

  • Apex, NC has a cost of living index of 122, 1.0x Carrboro.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Carrboro
Durham, NC 288,465 107 0.9x
Cary, NC 176,686 125 1.0x
Apex, NC 67,765 122 1.0x
Chapel Hill, NC 59,889 129 1.1x
Morrisville, NC 30,471 120 1.0x
Mebane, NC 18,899 100 0.8x
Graham, NC 17,537 88 0.7x
Hillsborough, NC 9,656 111 0.9x

Articles About North Carolina

Enjoy The Snack?