What is the cost of living in King, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, King has an overall cost of living index of 98, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, King has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in King ranks as #72 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies King ranks as the #87 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in King, check out:
King Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in King. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in King is 96.
The Groceries index in King is 99.
The Health index in King is 89.
The Housing index in King is 102.
The Transportation index in King is 99.
The Utilities index in King is 97.
| Living Expense | King | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 89 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 101 | 100 |
King 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
King, 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 King is $276,085.
The Median Rent in King is $895.
The Median Income in King is $57,817.
The Home Value To Income in King is 4.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in King is 0.19x.
| Statistic | King | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $276,085 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $895 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $57,817 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.8x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
King, NC Costs By Category
Detailed King Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | King | 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 King Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | King | 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 King Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | King | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $147.25 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.28 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $126.56 | $113.29 |
Detailed King Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | King | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.31 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $48.78 | $59.92 |
Detailed King Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | King | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $163.41 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
King SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around King
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around King. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Salinas, CA has a cost of living index of 151, 1.5x King.
Hollister, CA has a cost of living index of 155, 1.6x King.
Seaside, CA has a cost of living index of 156, 1.6x King.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. King |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas, CA | 161,761 | 151 | 1.5x |
| Hollister, CA | 43,811 | 155 | 1.6x |
| Seaside, CA | 31,814 | 156 | 1.6x |
| Monterey, CA | 29,613 | 193 | 2.0x |
| Soledad, CA | 26,365 | 144 | 1.5x |
| Marina, CA | 22,563 | 158 | 1.6x |
| Coalinga, CA | 17,203 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Gonzales, CA | 8,492 | 139 | 1.4x |
| Cambria, CA | 5,978 | 174 | 1.8x |
