What is the cost of living in Elon, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Elon has an overall cost of living index of 114, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Elon has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Elon ranks as #127 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Elon ranks as the #32 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Elon, check out:
Elon Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Elon. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Elon is 95.
The Groceries index in Elon is 102.
The Health index in Elon is 158.
The Housing index in Elon is 97.
The Transportation index in Elon is 102.
The Utilities index in Elon is 96.
| Living Expense | Elon | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 114 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 158 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 101 | 100 |
Elon 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
Elon, 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 Elon is $350,879.
The Median Rent in Elon is $2,080.
The Median Income in Elon is $84,773.
The Home Value To Income in Elon is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Elon is 0.29x.
| Statistic | Elon | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $350,879 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,080 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $84,773 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.1x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.29x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Elon, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Elon Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Elon | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.24 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.0 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.33 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $37.66 | $45.56 |
Detailed Elon Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Elon | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.17 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.42 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.49 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.0 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.41 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.25 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.67 | $3.7 |
Detailed Elon Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Elon | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $146.78 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $97.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed Elon Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Elon | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.31 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $54.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Elon Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Elon | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $161.71 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
Elon SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Elon
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Elon. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Greensboro, NC has a cost of living index of 99, 0.9x Elon.
Burlington, NC has a cost of living index of 94, 0.8x Elon.
Mebane, NC has a cost of living index of 103, 0.9x Elon.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Elon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro, NC | 301,198 | 99 | 0.9x |
| Burlington, NC | 59,610 | 94 | 0.8x |
| Mebane, NC | 19,538 | 103 | 0.9x |
| Graham, NC | 18,048 | 93 | 0.8x |
| Reidsville, NC | 14,585 | 88 | 0.8x |
| Gibsonville, NC | 9,467 | 98 | 0.9x |
