What is the cost of living in Garner, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Garner has an overall cost of living index of 104, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Garner has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Garner ranks as #96 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Garner ranks as the #63 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Garner, check out:
Garner Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Garner. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Garner is 99.
The Groceries index in Garner is 98.
The Health index in Garner is 119.
The Housing index in Garner is 98.
The Transportation index in Garner is 102.
The Utilities index in Garner is 100.
| Living Expense | Garner | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 104 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 119 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
Garner 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
Garner, 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 Garner is $384,100.
The Median Rent in Garner is $1,549.
The Median Income in Garner is $78,756.
The Home Value To Income in Garner is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Garner is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Garner | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $384,100 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,549 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $78,756 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Garner, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Garner Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Garner | 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 Garner Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Garner | 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 Garner Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Garner | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Garner Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Garner | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Garner Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Garner | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Garner SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Garner
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Garner. 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, 1.1x Garner.
Cary, NC has a cost of living index of 123, 1.2x Garner.
Apex, NC has a cost of living index of 121, 1.2x Garner.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Garner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Cary, NC | 179,306 | 123 | 1.2x |
| Apex, NC | 70,630 | 121 | 1.2x |
| Wake Forest, NC | 52,844 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Holly Springs, NC | 45,248 | 126 | 1.2x |
| Fuquay-Varina, NC | 40,485 | 112 | 1.1x |
| Morrisville, NC | 31,422 | 121 | 1.2x |
| Clayton, NC | 29,320 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Knightdale, NC | 20,214 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Wendell, NC | 13,064 | 102 | 1.0x |
