What is the cost of living in Kinston, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Kinston has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Kinston has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Kinston ranks as #17 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Kinston ranks as the #142 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Kinston, check out:
Kinston Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Kinston. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Kinston is 101.
The Groceries index in Kinston is 99.
The Health index in Kinston is 61.
The Housing index in Kinston is 99.
The Transportation index in Kinston is 98.
The Utilities index in Kinston is 98.
| Living Expense | Kinston | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 61 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Kinston 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
Kinston, 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 Kinston is $148,090.
The Median Rent in Kinston is $867.
The Median Income in Kinston is $36,878.
The Home Value To Income in Kinston is 4.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Kinston is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Kinston | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $148,090 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $867 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $36,878 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.0x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Kinston, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Kinston Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Kinston | 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 Kinston Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Kinston | 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 Kinston Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Kinston | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Kinston Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Kinston | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Kinston Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Kinston | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Kinston SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Kinston
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Kinston. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Greenville, NC has a cost of living index of 95, 1.1x Kinston.
Wilson, NC has a cost of living index of 95, 1.1x Kinston.
New Bern, NC has a cost of living index of 95, 1.1x Kinston.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Kinston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, NC | 92,857 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Wilson, NC | 48,370 | 95 | 1.1x |
| New Bern, NC | 32,734 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Havelock, NC | 17,691 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Piney Green, NC | 14,078 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Winterville, NC | 10,725 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Washington, NC | 9,726 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Clinton, NC | 8,304 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Half Moon, NC | 7,378 | 94 | 1.1x |
| Williamston, NC | 5,112 | 86 | 1.0x |
