Hillsborough, NC Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Hillsborough, NC Summary

Cost of living in Hillsborough research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Hillsborough is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in North Carolina, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Hillsborough is 111, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Hillsborough is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • Hillsborough ranks as the #118 cheapest in North Carolina out of 157.

  • Hillsborough ranks as the #3,765 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Hillsborough is $475,582.

  • The median income in Hillsborough is $98,467.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
111
Hillsborough's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

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 111, 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 92.

The standard of living in Hillsborough ranks as #118 most affordable out of the 157 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Hillsborough ranks as the #39 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.

For more reading on life in Hillsborough, check out:

118 out of 157
In North Carolina
3,765 out of 6,489
In America

Hillsborough Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Hillsborough. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Hillsborough is 97.

  • The Groceries index in Hillsborough is 102.

  • The Health index in Hillsborough is 102.

  • The Housing index in Hillsborough is 141.

  • The Transportation index in Hillsborough is 94.

  • The Utilities index in Hillsborough is 93.

Living Expense Hillsborough North Carolina National Average
Overall 111 92 100
Services 97 100 100
Groceries 102 99 100
Health 102 106 100
Housing 141 86 100
Transportation 94 93 100
Utilities 93 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
Hillsborough Cost of Living Vs. NC

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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Hillsborough is $475,582.

  • The Median Rent in Hillsborough is $1,349.

  • The Median Income in Hillsborough is $98,467.

  • The Home Value To Income in Hillsborough is 4.8x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Hillsborough is 0.16x.

Statistic Hillsborough North Carolina United States
Median Home Value $475,582 $332,681 $303,400
Median Rent $1,349 $1,162 $1,348
Median Income $98,467 $69,904 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.8x 4.8x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.16x 0.2x 0.21x
$475,582
Median Home Value
$1,349
Median Rent
$98,467
Median Income

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

7
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
6
Diversity
8.5
Safety
4
Amenities
8
Education
8.5
Commute
7

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 107, 1.0x Hillsborough.

  • Chapel Hill, NC has a cost of living index of 129, 1.2x Hillsborough.

  • Carrboro, NC has a cost of living index of 121, 1.1x Hillsborough.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Hillsborough
Durham, NC 288,465 107 1.0x
Chapel Hill, NC 59,889 129 1.2x
Carrboro, NC 21,170 121 1.1x
Mebane, NC 18,899 100 0.9x
Graham, NC 17,537 88 0.8x

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