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 128, which is 1.3x 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 95.
The standard of living in Carrboro ranks as #151 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Carrboro ranks as the #8 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Carrboro, check out:
Carrboro Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Carrboro. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Carrboro is 99.
The Groceries index in Carrboro is 95.
The Health index in Carrboro is 185.
The Housing index in Carrboro is 98.
The Transportation index in Carrboro is 98.
The Utilities index in Carrboro is 106.
| Living Expense | Carrboro | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 128 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 185 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 101 | 100 |
Carrboro 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
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Carrboro is $429,674.
The Median Rent in Carrboro is $1,470.
The Median Income in Carrboro is $85,743.
The Home Value To Income in Carrboro is 5.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Carrboro is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Carrboro | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $429,674 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,470 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $85,743 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.0x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
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
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 111, 0.9x Carrboro.
Cary, NC has a cost of living index of 123, 1.0x Carrboro.
Apex, NC has a cost of living index of 121, 0.9x Carrboro.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Carrboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NC | 291,467 | 111 | 0.9x |
| Cary, NC | 179,306 | 123 | 1.0x |
| Apex, NC | 70,630 | 121 | 0.9x |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 61,607 | 133 | 1.0x |
| Morrisville, NC | 31,422 | 121 | 0.9x |
| Mebane, NC | 19,538 | 103 | 0.8x |
| Graham, NC | 18,048 | 93 | 0.7x |
| Hillsborough, NC | 9,724 | 114 | 0.9x |
