Elizabeth City, NC Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-23

Cost Of Living In Elizabeth City, NC Summary

Cost of living in Elizabeth City research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Elizabeth City is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in North Carolina, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Elizabeth City is 98, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Elizabeth City is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • Elizabeth City ranks as the #76 cheapest in North Carolina out of 157.

  • Elizabeth City ranks as the #2,372 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Elizabeth City is $260,887.

  • The median income in Elizabeth City is $50,947.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
98
Elizabeth City's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Elizabeth City, NC?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Elizabeth City has an overall cost of living index of 98, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to North Carolina, Elizabeth City has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than North Carolina's index of 96.

The standard of living in Elizabeth City ranks as #76 most affordable out of the 157 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Elizabeth City ranks as the #81 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.

For more reading on life in Elizabeth City, check out:

76 out of 157
In North Carolina
2,372 out of 6,489
In America

Elizabeth City Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Elizabeth City. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Elizabeth City is 101.

  • The Groceries index in Elizabeth City is 101.

  • The Health index in Elizabeth City is 98.

  • The Housing index in Elizabeth City is 87.

  • The Transportation index in Elizabeth City is 102.

  • The Utilities index in Elizabeth City is 106.

Living Expense Elizabeth City North Carolina National Average
Overall 98 96 100
Services 101 99 100
Groceries 101 99 100
Health 98 106 100
Housing 87 86 100
Transportation 102 91 100
Utilities 106 92 100
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
Elizabeth City Cost of Living Vs. NC

Elizabeth City, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Elizabeth City is $260,887.

  • The Median Rent in Elizabeth City is $1,111.

  • The Median Income in Elizabeth City is $50,947.

  • The Home Value To Income in Elizabeth City is 5.1x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Elizabeth City is 0.26x.

Statistic Elizabeth City North Carolina United States
Median Home Value $260,887 $332,681 $303,400
Median Rent $1,111 $1,162 $1,348
Median Income $50,947 $69,904 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.1x 4.8x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.26x 0.2x 0.21x
$260,887
Median Home Value
$1,111
Median Rent
$50,947
Median Income

Elizabeth City, NC Costs By Category

Detailed Elizabeth City Services Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Elizabeth City North Carolina
Shampoo $1.26 $1.28
Movie $13.31 $12.13
Bowling $24.17 $18.0
Haircut $20.0 $24.26
Beauty Salon $54.17 $45.56

Detailed Elizabeth City Groceries Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Elizabeth City North Carolina
Ground Beef $5.54 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.44 $1.57
Milk $4.63 $4.67
Potatoes $5.27 $4.93
Pizza $12.72 $12.09
Beer $10.64 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.72 $3.7

Detailed Elizabeth City Health Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Elizabeth City North Carolina
Optometrist $95.44 $125.68
Doctor $122.83 $135.78
Dentist $109.67 $113.29

Detailed Elizabeth City Transportation Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Elizabeth City North Carolina
Gasoline $3.27 $3.46
Tire Balancing $60.0 $59.92

Detailed Elizabeth City Utilities Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Elizabeth City North Carolina
All Electricity $227.22 $193.99
Phone $185.33 $192.25

Elizabeth City SnackAbility

4
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
7
Affordability
5
Diversity
9
Safety
4
Amenities
8.5
Education
7
Commute
8

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