What is the cost of living in Greensboro, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Greensboro has an overall cost of living index of 99, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Greensboro has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Greensboro ranks as #79 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Greensboro ranks as the #80 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Greensboro, check out:
Greensboro Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Greensboro. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Greensboro is 104.
The Groceries index in Greensboro is 103.
The Health index in Greensboro is 89.
The Housing index in Greensboro is 103.
The Transportation index in Greensboro is 102.
The Utilities index in Greensboro is 95.
| Living Expense | Greensboro | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 89 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 101 | 100 |
Greensboro 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
Greensboro, 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 Greensboro is $264,427.
The Median Rent in Greensboro is $1,172.
The Median Income in Greensboro is $61,515.
The Home Value To Income in Greensboro is 4.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Greensboro is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Greensboro | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $264,427 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,172 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $61,515 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.3x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Greensboro, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Greensboro Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Greensboro | 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 Greensboro Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Greensboro | 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 Greensboro Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Greensboro | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $146.78 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $174.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $97.67 | $113.29 |
Detailed Greensboro Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Greensboro | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.31 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $54.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Greensboro Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Greensboro | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $161.71 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
Greensboro SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Greensboro
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Greensboro. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
High Point, NC has a cost of living index of 96, 1.0x Greensboro.
Burlington, NC has a cost of living index of 94, 0.9x Greensboro.
Kernersville, NC has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Greensboro.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Greensboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Point, NC | 116,245 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Burlington, NC | 59,610 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Kernersville, NC | 27,830 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Jamestown, ND | 15,787 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Archdale, NC | 12,087 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Summerfield, NC | 11,116 | 121 | 1.2x |
| Elon, NC | 11,032 | 114 | 1.2x |
| Gibsonville, NC | 9,467 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Oak Ridge, NC | 7,744 | 136 | 1.4x |
| Trinity, NC | 7,111 | 92 | 0.9x |
