What is the cost of living in Locust, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Locust has an overall cost of living index of 96, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Locust has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Locust ranks as #63 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Locust ranks as the #96 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Locust, check out:
Locust Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Locust. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Locust is 99.
The Groceries index in Locust is 101.
The Health index in Locust is 92.
The Housing index in Locust is 99.
The Transportation index in Locust is 100.
The Utilities index in Locust is 100.
| Living Expense | Locust | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 92 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
Locust 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
Locust, 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 Locust is $384,686.
The Median Rent in Locust is $895.
The Median Income in Locust is $76,504.
The Home Value To Income in Locust is 5.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Locust is 0.14x.
| Statistic | Locust | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $384,686 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $895 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $76,504 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.0x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.14x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Locust, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Locust Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Locust | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.55 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $59.75 | $45.56 |
Detailed Locust Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Locust | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.27 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.96 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.47 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Locust Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Locust | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $143.74 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $148.29 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.52 | $113.29 |
Detailed Locust Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Locust | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.32 | $59.92 |
Detailed Locust Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Locust | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $167.89 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.9 | $192.25 |
Locust SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Locust
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Locust. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Concord, NC has a cost of living index of 104, 1.1x Locust.
Kannapolis, NC has a cost of living index of 96, 1.0x Locust.
Indian Trail, NC has a cost of living index of 111, 1.2x Locust.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Locust |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concord, NC | 108,719 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Kannapolis, NC | 57,890 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Indian Trail, NC | 42,036 | 111 | 1.2x |
| Monroe, NC | 36,759 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Matthews, NC | 30,577 | 117 | 1.2x |
| Mint Hill, NC | 27,556 | 111 | 1.2x |
| Harrisburg, NC | 19,633 | 117 | 1.2x |
| Stallings, NC | 16,886 | 114 | 1.2x |
| Albemarle, NC | 16,762 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Unionville, NC | 6,954 | 104 | 1.1x |
