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 99, 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 95.
The standard of living in Elizabeth City ranks as #79 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Elizabeth City ranks as the #80 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Elizabeth City, check out:
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 fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Elizabeth City is 103.
The Groceries index in Elizabeth City is 103.
The Health index in Elizabeth City is 85.
The Housing index in Elizabeth City is 107.
The Transportation index in Elizabeth City is 103.
The Utilities index in Elizabeth City is 104.
| Living Expense | Elizabeth City | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 85 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 101 | 100 |
Elizabeth City 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
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Elizabeth City is $264,970.
The Median Rent in Elizabeth City is $1,117.
The Median Income in Elizabeth City is $52,141.
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 | $264,970 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,117 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $52,141 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.1x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
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 |
| 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 |
