What is the cost of living in Mills River, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Mills River has an overall cost of living index of 113, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Mills River has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Mills River ranks as #124 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Mills River ranks as the #35 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Mills River, check out:
Mills River Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Mills River. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Mills River is 103.
The Groceries index in Mills River is 101.
The Health index in Mills River is 143.
The Housing index in Mills River is 98.
The Transportation index in Mills River is 99.
The Utilities index in Mills River is 107.
| Living Expense | Mills River | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 113 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 143 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 107 | 101 | 100 |
Mills River 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
Mills River, 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 Mills River is $530,765.
The Median Rent in Mills River is $1,551.
The Median Income in Mills River is $105,398.
The Home Value To Income in Mills River is 5.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Mills River is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Mills River | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $530,765 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,551 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $105,398 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.0x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Mills River, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Mills River Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Mills River | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.33 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.07 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.89 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.22 | $45.56 |
Detailed Mills River Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Mills River | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.46 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.27 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.44 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.44 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.8 | $3.7 |
Detailed Mills River Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Mills River | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $155.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $166.73 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $113.89 | $113.29 |
Detailed Mills River Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Mills River | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $49.99 | $59.92 |
Detailed Mills River Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Mills River | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $221.84 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
Mills River SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Mills River
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Mills River. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Asheville, NC has a cost of living index of 115, 1.0x Mills River.
Hendersonville, NC has a cost of living index of 102, 0.9x Mills River.
Fletcher, NC has a cost of living index of 111, 1.0x Mills River.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Mills River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | 94,535 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Hendersonville, NC | 15,408 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Fletcher, NC | 8,098 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Woodfin, NC | 8,048 | 112 | 1.0x |
| Etowah, NC | 7,968 | 106 | 0.9x |
| Brevard, NC | 7,897 | 102 | 0.9x |
