What is the cost of living in Gastonia, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Gastonia has an overall cost of living index of 98, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Gastonia has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Gastonia ranks as #72 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Gastonia ranks as the #87 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Gastonia, check out:
Gastonia Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Gastonia. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Gastonia is 97.
The Groceries index in Gastonia is 97.
The Health index in Gastonia is 92.
The Housing index in Gastonia is 98.
The Transportation index in Gastonia is 105.
The Utilities index in Gastonia is 96.
| Living Expense | Gastonia | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 92 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 105 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 101 | 100 |
Gastonia 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
Gastonia, 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 Gastonia is $277,330.
The Median Rent in Gastonia is $1,204.
The Median Income in Gastonia is $64,059.
The Home Value To Income in Gastonia is 4.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Gastonia is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Gastonia | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $277,330 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,204 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $64,059 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.3x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Gastonia, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Gastonia Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Gastonia | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.55 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $59.75 | $45.56 |
Detailed Gastonia Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Gastonia | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.27 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.96 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.47 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Gastonia Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Gastonia | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $143.74 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $148.29 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.52 | $113.29 |
Detailed Gastonia Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Gastonia | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.32 | $59.92 |
Detailed Gastonia Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Gastonia | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $167.89 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.9 | $192.25 |
Gastonia SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Gastonia
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Gastonia. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Mount Holly, NC has a cost of living index of 97, 1.0x Gastonia.
Lake Wylie, SC has a cost of living index of 121, 1.2x Gastonia.
Belmont, NC has a cost of living index of 107, 1.1x Gastonia.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Gastonia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Holly, NC | 18,208 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Lake Wylie, SC | 16,006 | 121 | 1.2x |
| Belmont, NC | 15,546 | 107 | 1.1x |
| Tega Cay, SC | 13,615 | 131 | 1.3x |
| Kings Mountain, NC | 12,039 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Lincolnton, NC | 11,783 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Pineville, NC | 11,055 | 110 | 1.1x |
| York, SC | 8,969 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Clover, SC | 7,234 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Cherryville, NC | 6,226 | 93 | 0.9x |
