What is the cost of living in Jacksonville, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Jacksonville has an overall cost of living index of 99, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Jacksonville has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Jacksonville ranks as #79 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Jacksonville ranks as the #80 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Jacksonville, check out:
Jacksonville Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Jacksonville. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Jacksonville is 102.
The Groceries index in Jacksonville is 102.
The Health index in Jacksonville is 91.
The Housing index in Jacksonville is 103.
The Transportation index in Jacksonville is 103.
The Utilities index in Jacksonville is 101.
| Living Expense | Jacksonville | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 91 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | 100 |
Jacksonville 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
Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville is $261,055.
The Median Rent in Jacksonville is $1,321.
The Median Income in Jacksonville is $57,697.
The Home Value To Income in Jacksonville is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Jacksonville is 0.27x.
| Statistic | Jacksonville | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $261,055 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,321 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $57,697 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.5x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Jacksonville, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Jacksonville Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Jacksonville | 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 Jacksonville Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Jacksonville | 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 Jacksonville Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Jacksonville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Jacksonville Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Jacksonville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Jacksonville Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Jacksonville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Jacksonville SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Jacksonville
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Jacksonville. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Wilmington, NC has a cost of living index of 108, 1.1x Jacksonville.
New Bern, NC has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x Jacksonville.
Havelock, NC has a cost of living index of 96, 1.0x Jacksonville.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Jacksonville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NC | 120,805 | 108 | 1.1x |
| New Bern, NC | 32,734 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Havelock, NC | 17,691 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Murraysville, NC | 16,339 | 106 | 1.1x |
| Piney Green, NC | 14,078 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Kings Grant, NC | 9,003 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Ogden, NC | 8,249 | 122 | 1.2x |
| Porters Neck, NC | 7,654 | 124 | 1.3x |
| Half Moon, NC | 7,378 | 94 | 0.9x |
