What is the cost of living in Kernersville, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Kernersville has an overall cost of living index of 102, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Kernersville has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Kernersville ranks as #88 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Kernersville ranks as the #71 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Kernersville, check out:
Kernersville Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Kernersville. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Kernersville is 98.
The Groceries index in Kernersville is 100.
The Health index in Kernersville is 105.
The Housing index in Kernersville is 103.
The Transportation index in Kernersville is 98.
The Utilities index in Kernersville is 94.
| Living Expense | Kernersville | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 102 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 105 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 101 | 100 |
Kernersville 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
Kernersville, 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 Kernersville is $322,446.
The Median Rent in Kernersville is $1,082.
The Median Income in Kernersville is $71,918.
The Home Value To Income in Kernersville is 4.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Kernersville is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Kernersville | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $322,446 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,082 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $71,918 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.5x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Kernersville, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Kernersville Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Kernersville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.25 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.58 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $22.17 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $52.72 | $45.56 |
Detailed Kernersville Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Kernersville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.81 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.58 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.01 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.34 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.17 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.64 | $3.7 |
Detailed Kernersville Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Kernersville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $147.25 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.28 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $126.56 | $113.29 |
Detailed Kernersville Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Kernersville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.31 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $48.78 | $59.92 |
Detailed Kernersville Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Kernersville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $163.41 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
Kernersville SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Kernersville
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Kernersville. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Greensboro, NC has a cost of living index of 99, 1.0x Kernersville.
Winston-Salem, NC has a cost of living index of 93, 0.9x Kernersville.
High Point, NC has a cost of living index of 96, 0.9x Kernersville.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Kernersville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro, NC | 301,198 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 252,037 | 93 | 0.9x |
| High Point, NC | 116,245 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Clemmons, NC | 21,871 | 108 | 1.1x |
| Jamestown, ND | 15,787 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Lewisville, NC | 13,828 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Archdale, NC | 12,087 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Summerfield, NC | 11,116 | 121 | 1.2x |
| Oak Ridge, NC | 7,744 | 136 | 1.3x |
| King, NC | 7,408 | 98 | 1.0x |
