What is the cost of living in Hillsborough, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Hillsborough has an overall cost of living index of 114, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Hillsborough has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Hillsborough ranks as #127 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Hillsborough ranks as the #32 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Hillsborough, check out:
Hillsborough Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Hillsborough. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Hillsborough is 98.
The Groceries index in Hillsborough is 98.
The Health index in Hillsborough is 147.
The Housing index in Hillsborough is 97.
The Transportation index in Hillsborough is 99.
The Utilities index in Hillsborough is 108.
| Living Expense | Hillsborough | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 114 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 147 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 101 | 100 |
Hillsborough 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
Hillsborough, 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 Hillsborough is $472,961.
The Median Rent in Hillsborough is $1,368.
The Median Income in Hillsborough is $98,163.
The Home Value To Income in Hillsborough is 4.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Hillsborough is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Hillsborough | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $472,961 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,368 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $98,163 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.8x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Hillsborough, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Hillsborough Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Hillsborough | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.33 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.19 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.2 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $50.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Hillsborough Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Hillsborough | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.28 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.36 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.64 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.99 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.73 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.46 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.85 | $3.7 |
Detailed Hillsborough Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Hillsborough | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $126.46 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $146.71 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $136.77 | $113.29 |
Detailed Hillsborough Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Hillsborough | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.32 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $42.85 | $59.92 |
Detailed Hillsborough Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Hillsborough | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $161.71 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
Hillsborough SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Hillsborough
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Hillsborough. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Durham, NC has a cost of living index of 111, 1.0x Hillsborough.
Chapel Hill, NC has a cost of living index of 133, 1.2x Hillsborough.
Carrboro, NC has a cost of living index of 128, 1.1x Hillsborough.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NC | 291,467 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 61,607 | 133 | 1.2x |
| Carrboro, NC | 21,204 | 128 | 1.1x |
| Mebane, NC | 19,538 | 103 | 0.9x |
| Graham, NC | 18,048 | 93 | 0.8x |
