What is the cost of living in Goldsboro, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Goldsboro has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Goldsboro has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Goldsboro ranks as #29 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Goldsboro ranks as the #130 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Goldsboro, check out:
Goldsboro Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Goldsboro. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Goldsboro is 101.
The Groceries index in Goldsboro is 100.
The Health index in Goldsboro is 75.
The Housing index in Goldsboro is 98.
The Transportation index in Goldsboro is 97.
The Utilities index in Goldsboro is 98.
| Living Expense | Goldsboro | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 75 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Goldsboro 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
Goldsboro, 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 Goldsboro is $194,176.
The Median Rent in Goldsboro is $971.
The Median Income in Goldsboro is $48,540.
The Home Value To Income in Goldsboro is 4.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Goldsboro is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Goldsboro | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $194,176 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $971 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $48,540 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.0x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Goldsboro, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Goldsboro Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Goldsboro | 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 Goldsboro Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Goldsboro | 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 Goldsboro Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Goldsboro | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Goldsboro Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Goldsboro | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Goldsboro Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Goldsboro | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Goldsboro SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Goldsboro
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Goldsboro. 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, 1.3x Goldsboro.
Greenville, NC has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x Goldsboro.
Fuquay-Varina, NC has a cost of living index of 112, 1.2x Goldsboro.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Goldsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 116 | 1.3x |
| Greenville, NC | 92,857 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Fuquay-Varina, NC | 40,485 | 112 | 1.2x |
| Garner, NC | 34,473 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Clayton, NC | 29,320 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Knightdale, NC | 20,214 | 107 | 1.2x |
| Wendell, NC | 13,064 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Winterville, NC | 10,725 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Half Moon, NC | 7,378 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Nashville, NC | 5,729 | 95 | 1.0x |
