What is the cost of living in Cullowhee, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Cullowhee has an overall cost of living index of 112, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Cullowhee has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Cullowhee ranks as #121 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Cullowhee ranks as the #38 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Cullowhee, check out:
Cullowhee Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Cullowhee. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Cullowhee is 102.
The Groceries index in Cullowhee is 101.
The Health index in Cullowhee is 134.
The Housing index in Cullowhee is 100.
The Transportation index in Cullowhee is 99.
The Utilities index in Cullowhee is 107.
| Living Expense | Cullowhee | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 112 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 134 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 101 | 100 |
Cullowhee 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
Cullowhee, 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 Cullowhee is $417,708.
The Median Rent in Cullowhee is $869.
The Median Income in Cullowhee is $35,929.
The Home Value To Income in Cullowhee is 11.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Cullowhee is 0.29x.
| Statistic | Cullowhee | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $417,708 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $869 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $35,929 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 11.6x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.29x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Cullowhee, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Cullowhee Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Cullowhee | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.33 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.07 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.89 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.22 | $45.56 |
Detailed Cullowhee Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Cullowhee | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.46 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.27 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.44 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.44 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.8 | $3.7 |
Detailed Cullowhee Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Cullowhee | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $155.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $166.73 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $113.89 | $113.29 |
Detailed Cullowhee Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Cullowhee | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $49.99 | $59.92 |
Detailed Cullowhee Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Cullowhee | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $221.84 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
Cullowhee SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Cullowhee
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Cullowhee. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Asheville, NC has a cost of living index of 115, 1.0x Cullowhee.
Sevierville, TN has a cost of living index of 100, 0.9x Cullowhee.
Clemson, SC has a cost of living index of 112, 1.0x Cullowhee.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Cullowhee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | 94,535 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Sevierville, TN | 18,397 | 100 | 0.9x |
| Clemson, SC | 18,072 | 112 | 1.0x |
| Hendersonville, NC | 15,408 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Waynesville, NC | 10,502 | 98 | 0.9x |
| Fletcher, NC | 8,098 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Woodfin, NC | 8,048 | 112 | 1.0x |
| Etowah, NC | 7,968 | 106 | 0.9x |
| Brevard, NC | 7,897 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Mills River, NC | 7,281 | 113 | 1.0x |
