What is the cost of living in Matthews, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Matthews has an overall cost of living index of 117, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Matthews has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Matthews ranks as #135 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Matthews ranks as the #24 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Matthews, check out:
Matthews Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Matthews. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Matthews is 95.
The Groceries index in Matthews is 98.
The Health index in Matthews is 155.
The Housing index in Matthews is 100.
The Transportation index in Matthews is 100.
The Utilities index in Matthews is 100.
| Living Expense | Matthews | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 117 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 155 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
Matthews 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
Matthews, 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 Matthews is $501,847.
The Median Rent in Matthews is $1,764.
The Median Income in Matthews is $108,611.
The Home Value To Income in Matthews is 4.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Matthews is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Matthews | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $501,847 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,764 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $108,611 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.6x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Matthews, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Matthews Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Matthews | 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 Matthews Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Matthews | 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 Matthews Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Matthews | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $143.74 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $148.29 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.52 | $113.29 |
Detailed Matthews Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Matthews | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.32 | $59.92 |
Detailed Matthews Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Matthews | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $167.89 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.9 | $192.25 |
Matthews SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Matthews
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Matthews. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Charlotte, NC has a cost of living index of 108, 0.9x Matthews.
Concord, NC has a cost of living index of 104, 0.9x Matthews.
Indian Trail, NC has a cost of living index of 111, 0.9x Matthews.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Matthews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 903,844 | 108 | 0.9x |
| Concord, NC | 108,719 | 104 | 0.9x |
| Indian Trail, NC | 42,036 | 111 | 0.9x |
| Mint Hill, NC | 27,556 | 111 | 0.9x |
| Harrisburg, NC | 19,633 | 117 | 1.0x |
| Stallings, NC | 16,886 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Weddington, NC | 13,805 | 146 | 1.2x |
| Pineville, NC | 11,055 | 110 | 0.9x |
| Wesley Chapel, NC | 9,090 | 127 | 1.1x |
| Unionville, NC | 6,954 | 104 | 0.9x |
