What is the cost of living in Chapel Hill, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Chapel Hill has an overall cost of living index of 133, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Chapel Hill has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Chapel Hill ranks as #155 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Chapel Hill ranks as the #4 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Chapel Hill, check out:
Chapel Hill Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Chapel Hill. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Chapel Hill is 97.
The Groceries index in Chapel Hill is 95.
The Health index in Chapel Hill is 209.
The Housing index in Chapel Hill is 97.
The Transportation index in Chapel Hill is 99.
The Utilities index in Chapel Hill is 108.
| Living Expense | Chapel Hill | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 133 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 209 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 101 | 100 |
Chapel Hill 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
Chapel Hill, 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 Chapel Hill is $631,166.
The Median Rent in Chapel Hill is $1,613.
The Median Income in Chapel Hill is $85,989.
The Home Value To Income in Chapel Hill is 7.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Chapel Hill is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Chapel Hill | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $631,166 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,613 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $85,989 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.3x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Chapel Hill, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Chapel Hill Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Chapel Hill | 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 Chapel Hill Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Chapel Hill | 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 Chapel Hill Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Chapel Hill | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $126.46 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $146.71 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $136.77 | $113.29 |
Detailed Chapel Hill Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Chapel Hill | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.32 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $42.85 | $59.92 |
Detailed Chapel Hill Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Chapel Hill | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $161.71 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
Chapel Hill SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Chapel Hill
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Chapel Hill. 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, 0.8x Chapel Hill.
Cary, NC has a cost of living index of 123, 0.9x Chapel Hill.
Apex, NC has a cost of living index of 121, 0.9x Chapel Hill.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Chapel Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NC | 291,467 | 111 | 0.8x |
| Cary, NC | 179,306 | 123 | 0.9x |
| Apex, NC | 70,630 | 121 | 0.9x |
| Morrisville, NC | 31,422 | 121 | 0.9x |
| Carrboro, NC | 21,204 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Mebane, NC | 19,538 | 103 | 0.8x |
| Hillsborough, NC | 9,724 | 114 | 0.9x |
