What is the cost of living in Cary, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Cary has an overall cost of living index of 123, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Cary has a cost of living index that's 1.3x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Cary ranks as #144 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Cary ranks as the #15 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Cary, check out:
Cary Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Cary. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Cary is 97.
The Groceries index in Cary is 102.
The Health index in Cary is 183.
The Housing index in Cary is 98.
The Transportation index in Cary is 96.
The Utilities index in Cary is 101.
| Living Expense | Cary | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 123 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 183 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | 100 |
Cary 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
Cary, 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 Cary is $626,395.
The Median Rent in Cary is $1,738.
The Median Income in Cary is $134,905.
The Home Value To Income in Cary is 4.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Cary is 0.15x.
| Statistic | Cary | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $626,395 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,738 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $134,905 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.6x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.15x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Cary, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Cary Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Cary | 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 Cary Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Cary | 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 Cary Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Cary | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Cary Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Cary | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Cary Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Cary | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Cary SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Cary
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Cary. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Raleigh, NC has a cost of living index of 116, 0.9x Cary.
Durham, NC has a cost of living index of 111, 0.9x Cary.
Apex, NC has a cost of living index of 121, 1.0x Cary.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Cary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 116 | 0.9x |
| Durham, NC | 291,467 | 111 | 0.9x |
| Apex, NC | 70,630 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 61,607 | 133 | 1.1x |
| Holly Springs, NC | 45,248 | 126 | 1.0x |
| Fuquay-Varina, NC | 40,485 | 112 | 0.9x |
| Garner, NC | 34,473 | 104 | 0.8x |
| Morrisville, NC | 31,422 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Carrboro, NC | 21,204 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Knightdale, NC | 20,214 | 107 | 0.9x |
