What is the cost of living in Charlotte, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Charlotte has an overall cost of living index of 108, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Charlotte has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Charlotte ranks as #107 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Charlotte ranks as the #52 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Charlotte, check out:
Charlotte Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Charlotte. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Charlotte is 102.
The Groceries index in Charlotte is 98.
The Health index in Charlotte is 125.
The Housing index in Charlotte is 101.
The Transportation index in Charlotte is 101.
The Utilities index in Charlotte is 106.
| Living Expense | Charlotte | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 108 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 125 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 101 | 100 |
Charlotte 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
Charlotte, 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 Charlotte is $397,125.
The Median Rent in Charlotte is $1,612.
The Median Income in Charlotte is $82,068.
The Home Value To Income in Charlotte is 4.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Charlotte is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Charlotte | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $397,125 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,612 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $82,068 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.8x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Charlotte, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Charlotte Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Charlotte | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.55 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $59.75 | $45.56 |
Detailed Charlotte Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Charlotte | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.27 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.96 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.47 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Charlotte Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Charlotte | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $143.74 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $148.29 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.52 | $113.29 |
Detailed Charlotte Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Charlotte | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.32 | $59.92 |
Detailed Charlotte Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Charlotte | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $167.89 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.9 | $192.25 |
Charlotte SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Charlotte
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Charlotte. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Huntersville, NC has a cost of living index of 116, 1.1x Charlotte.
Indian Trail, NC has a cost of living index of 111, 1.0x Charlotte.
Cornelius, NC has a cost of living index of 124, 1.1x Charlotte.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Charlotte |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntersville, NC | 63,969 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Indian Trail, NC | 42,036 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Cornelius, NC | 32,783 | 124 | 1.1x |
| Matthews, NC | 30,577 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Mint Hill, NC | 27,556 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Harrisburg, NC | 19,633 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Mount Holly, NC | 18,208 | 97 | 0.9x |
| Stallings, NC | 16,886 | 114 | 1.1x |
| Davidson, NC | 15,660 | 131 | 1.2x |
| Belmont, NC | 15,546 | 107 | 1.0x |
