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 100, 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 95.
The standard of living in Monroe ranks as #83 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Monroe ranks as the #76 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Monroe, check out:
Monroe Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Monroe. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Monroe is 97.
The Groceries index in Monroe is 100.
The Health index in Monroe is 99.
The Housing index in Monroe is 102.
The Transportation index in Monroe is 96.
The Utilities index in Monroe is 98.
| Living Expense | Monroe | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 99 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Monroe 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
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Monroe is $356,519.
The Median Rent in Monroe is $1,246.
The Median Income in Monroe is $72,540.
The Home Value To Income in Monroe is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Monroe is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Monroe | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $356,519 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,246 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $72,540 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
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
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 89, 0.9x Monroe.
Middletown, NY has a cost of living index of 111, 1.1x Monroe.
Hannibal, MO has a cost of living index of 86, 0.9x Monroe.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quincy, IL | 39,109 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Middletown, NY | 30,289 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Hannibal, MO | 16,771 | 86 | 0.9x |
| Moberly, MO | 13,526 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Mexico, MO | 11,477 | 85 | 0.8x |
| Lewistown, MT | 6,087 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Macon, MO | 5,466 | 83 | 0.8x |
