What is the cost of living in Dunn, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Dunn has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Dunn has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Dunn ranks as #33 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Dunn ranks as the #126 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Dunn, check out:
Dunn Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Dunn. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Dunn is 103.
The Groceries index in Dunn is 98.
The Health index in Dunn is 76.
The Housing index in Dunn is 97.
The Transportation index in Dunn is 101.
The Utilities index in Dunn is 106.
| Living Expense | Dunn | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 76 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 101 | 100 |
Dunn 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
Dunn, 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 Dunn is $227,475.
The Median Rent in Dunn is $788.
The Median Income in Dunn is $46,830.
The Home Value To Income in Dunn is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Dunn is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Dunn | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $227,475 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $788 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $46,830 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Dunn, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Dunn Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Dunn | 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 Dunn Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Dunn | 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 Dunn Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Dunn | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Dunn Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Dunn | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Dunn Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Dunn | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Dunn SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Dunn
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Dunn. 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, 1.3x Dunn.
Cary, NC has a cost of living index of 123, 1.3x Dunn.
Apex, NC has a cost of living index of 121, 1.3x Dunn.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Dunn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 116 | 1.3x |
| Cary, NC | 179,306 | 123 | 1.3x |
| Apex, NC | 70,630 | 121 | 1.3x |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 61,607 | 133 | 1.4x |
| Wake Forest, NC | 52,844 | 117 | 1.3x |
| Holly Springs, NC | 45,248 | 126 | 1.4x |
| Fuquay-Varina, NC | 40,485 | 112 | 1.2x |
| Garner, NC | 34,473 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Morrisville, NC | 31,422 | 121 | 1.3x |
| Knightdale, NC | 20,214 | 107 | 1.2x |
