What is the cost of living in Clayton, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Clayton has an overall cost of living index of 102, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Clayton has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Clayton ranks as #88 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Clayton ranks as the #71 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Clayton, check out:
Clayton Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Clayton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Clayton is 102.
The Groceries index in Clayton is 99.
The Health index in Clayton is 112.
The Housing index in Clayton is 98.
The Transportation index in Clayton is 102.
The Utilities index in Clayton is 99.
| Living Expense | Clayton | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 102 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 112 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 101 | 100 |
Clayton 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
Clayton, 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 Clayton is $364,741.
The Median Rent in Clayton is $1,661.
The Median Income in Clayton is $78,822.
The Home Value To Income in Clayton is 4.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Clayton is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Clayton | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $364,741 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,661 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $78,822 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.6x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Clayton, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Clayton Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Clayton | 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 Clayton Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Clayton | 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 Clayton Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Clayton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Clayton Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Clayton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Clayton Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Clayton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Clayton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Clayton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Clayton. 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, 1.1x Clayton.
Fuquay-Varina, NC has a cost of living index of 112, 1.1x Clayton.
Garner, NC has a cost of living index of 104, 1.0x Clayton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Clayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Fuquay-Varina, NC | 40,485 | 112 | 1.1x |
| Garner, NC | 34,473 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Knightdale, NC | 20,214 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Wendell, NC | 13,064 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Smithfield, NC | 12,116 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Zebulon, NC | 8,711 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Selma, NC | 6,817 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Archer Lodge, NC | 5,186 | 104 | 1.0x |
