What is the cost of living in Etowah, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Etowah has an overall cost of living index of 106, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Etowah has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Etowah ranks as #100 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Etowah ranks as the #59 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Etowah, check out:
Etowah Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Etowah. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Etowah is 102.
The Groceries index in Etowah is 100.
The Health index in Etowah is 117.
The Housing index in Etowah is 100.
The Transportation index in Etowah is 95.
The Utilities index in Etowah is 105.
| Living Expense | Etowah | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 106 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 117 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 105 | 101 | 100 |
Etowah 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
Etowah, 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 Etowah is $410,174.
The Median Rent in Etowah is $1,413.
The Median Income in Etowah is $72,596.
The Home Value To Income in Etowah is 5.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Etowah is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Etowah | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $410,174 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,413 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $72,596 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.7x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Etowah, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Etowah Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Etowah | 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 Etowah Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Etowah | 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 Etowah Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Etowah | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $155.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $166.73 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $113.89 | $113.29 |
Detailed Etowah Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Etowah | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $49.99 | $59.92 |
Detailed Etowah Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Etowah | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $221.84 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
Etowah SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Etowah
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Etowah. 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, 1.1x Etowah.
Hendersonville, NC has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Etowah.
Fletcher, NC has a cost of living index of 111, 1.0x Etowah.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Etowah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | 94,535 | 115 | 1.1x |
| Hendersonville, NC | 15,408 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Fletcher, NC | 8,098 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Brevard, NC | 7,897 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Mills River, NC | 7,281 | 113 | 1.1x |
