Monroe, NC Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Monroe, NC Summary

Cost of living in Monroe research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Monroe is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in North Carolina, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Monroe is 99, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Monroe is 1.0x lower than the national average.

  • Monroe ranks as the #80 cheapest in North Carolina out of 157.

  • Monroe ranks as the #2,497 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Monroe is $349,834.

  • The median income in Monroe is $67,265.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
99
Monroe's Overall Cost Of Living
1.0x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Monroe, NC?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Monroe has an overall cost of living index of 99, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to North Carolina, Monroe has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Carolina's index of 92.

The standard of living in Monroe ranks as #80 most affordable out of the 157 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Monroe ranks as the #77 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.

For more reading on life in Monroe, check out:

80 out of 157
In North Carolina
2,497 out of 6,489
In America

Monroe Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Monroe. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Monroe is 102.

  • The Groceries index in Monroe is 98.

  • The Health index in Monroe is 112.

  • The Housing index in Monroe is 100.

  • The Transportation index in Monroe is 95.

  • The Utilities index in Monroe is 87.

Living Expense Monroe North Carolina National Average
Overall 99 92 100
Services 102 100 100
Groceries 98 99 100
Health 112 106 100
Housing 100 86 100
Transportation 95 93 100
Utilities 87 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
Monroe Cost of Living Vs. NC

Monroe, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Monroe is $349,834.

  • The Median Rent in Monroe is $1,216.

  • The Median Income in Monroe is $67,265.

  • The Home Value To Income in Monroe is 5.2x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Monroe is 0.22x.

Statistic Monroe North Carolina United States
Median Home Value $349,834 $332,681 $303,400
Median Rent $1,216 $1,162 $1,348
Median Income $67,265 $69,904 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.2x 4.8x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.22x 0.2x 0.21x
$349,834
Median Home Value
$1,216
Median Rent
$67,265
Median Income

Monroe, NC Costs By Category

Detailed Monroe Services Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Monroe 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 Monroe Groceries Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Monroe 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 Monroe Health Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Monroe North Carolina
Optometrist $143.74 $125.68
Doctor $148.29 $135.78
Dentist $115.52 $113.29

Detailed Monroe Transportation Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Monroe North Carolina
Gasoline $3.29 $3.46
Tire Balancing $53.32 $59.92

Detailed Monroe Utilities Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Monroe North Carolina
All Electricity $167.89 $193.99
Phone $189.9 $192.25

Monroe SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
8
Affordability
6
Diversity
10
Safety
3
Amenities
8.5
Education
5
Commute
6

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Monroe

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Monroe. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Quincy, IL has a cost of living index of 87, 0.9x Monroe.

  • Middletown, NY has a cost of living index of 101, 1.0x Monroe.

  • Hannibal, MO has a cost of living index of 86, 0.9x Monroe.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Monroe
Quincy, IL 39,188 87 0.9x
Middletown, NY 30,227 101 1.0x
Hannibal, MO 16,825 86 0.9x
Moberly, MO 13,634 85 0.9x
Mexico, MO 11,487 82 0.8x
Lewistown, MT 6,028 86 0.9x
Macon, MO 5,457 83 0.8x

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