What is the cost of living in Lenoir, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lenoir has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Lenoir has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Lenoir ranks as #24 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Lenoir ranks as the #135 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Lenoir, check out:
Lenoir Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lenoir. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lenoir is 99.
The Groceries index in Lenoir is 100.
The Health index in Lenoir is 62.
The Housing index in Lenoir is 95.
The Transportation index in Lenoir is 99.
The Utilities index in Lenoir is 98.
| Living Expense | Lenoir | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 62 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Lenoir 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
Lenoir, 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 Lenoir is $215,174.
The Median Rent in Lenoir is $664.
The Median Income in Lenoir is $49,910.
The Home Value To Income in Lenoir is 4.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lenoir is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Lenoir | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $215,174 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $664 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $49,910 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.3x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Lenoir, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Lenoir Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Lenoir | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.67 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.63 | $18 |
| Haircut | $30.02 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $39.6 | $45.56 |
Detailed Lenoir Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Lenoir | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.12 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.55 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.66 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.3 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.64 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.31 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Lenoir Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Lenoir | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $131.75 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.27 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $130.26 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lenoir Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Lenoir | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.19 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.92 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lenoir Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Lenoir | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $160.96 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.97 | $192.25 |
Lenoir SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lenoir
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lenoir. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Mooresville, NC has a cost of living index of 109, 1.2x Lenoir.
Hickory, NC has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Lenoir.
Cornelius, NC has a cost of living index of 124, 1.4x Lenoir.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lenoir |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mooresville, NC | 52,381 | 109 | 1.2x |
| Hickory, NC | 44,258 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Cornelius, NC | 32,783 | 124 | 1.4x |
| Boone, NC | 20,032 | 107 | 1.2x |
| Davidson, NC | 15,660 | 131 | 1.5x |
| Lincolnton, NC | 11,783 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Lake Norman of Catawba, NC | 9,906 | 130 | 1.4x |
| St. Stephens, NC | 9,457 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Conover, NC | 8,580 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Black Mountain, NC | 8,513 | 108 | 1.2x |
