What is the cost of living in Knightdale, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Knightdale has an overall cost of living index of 107, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Knightdale has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Knightdale ranks as #103 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Knightdale ranks as the #56 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Knightdale, check out:
Knightdale Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Knightdale. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Knightdale is 101.
The Groceries index in Knightdale is 98.
The Health index in Knightdale is 121.
The Housing index in Knightdale is 103.
The Transportation index in Knightdale is 103.
The Utilities index in Knightdale is 106.
| Living Expense | Knightdale | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 107 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 121 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 101 | 100 |
Knightdale 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
Knightdale, 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 Knightdale is $370,204.
The Median Rent in Knightdale is $1,674.
The Median Income in Knightdale is $103,220.
The Home Value To Income in Knightdale is 3.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Knightdale is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Knightdale | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $370,204 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,674 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $103,220 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.6x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Knightdale, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Knightdale Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Knightdale | 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 Knightdale Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Knightdale | 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 Knightdale Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Knightdale | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Knightdale Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Knightdale | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Knightdale Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Knightdale | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Knightdale SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Knightdale
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Knightdale. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Raleigh, NC has a cost of living index of 116, 1.1x Knightdale.
Cary, NC has a cost of living index of 123, 1.1x Knightdale.
Wake Forest, NC has a cost of living index of 117, 1.1x Knightdale.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Knightdale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Cary, NC | 179,306 | 123 | 1.1x |
| Wake Forest, NC | 52,844 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Garner, NC | 34,473 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Morrisville, NC | 31,422 | 121 | 1.1x |
| Clayton, NC | 29,320 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Wendell, NC | 13,064 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Rolesville, NC | 10,766 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Zebulon, NC | 8,711 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Archer Lodge, NC | 5,186 | 104 | 1.0x |








