What is the cost of living in Morganton, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Morganton has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Morganton has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Morganton ranks as #33 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Morganton ranks as the #126 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Morganton, check out:
Morganton Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Morganton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Morganton is 97.
The Groceries index in Morganton is 103.
The Health index in Morganton is 78.
The Housing index in Morganton is 95.
The Transportation index in Morganton is 99.
The Utilities index in Morganton is 98.
| Living Expense | Morganton | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 78 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Morganton 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
Morganton, 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 Morganton is $261,445.
The Median Rent in Morganton is $944.
The Median Income in Morganton is $51,355.
The Home Value To Income in Morganton is 5.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Morganton is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Morganton | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $261,445 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $944 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $51,355 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.1x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Morganton, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Morganton Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Morganton | 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 Morganton Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Morganton | 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 Morganton Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Morganton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $155.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $166.73 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $113.89 | $113.29 |
Detailed Morganton Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Morganton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $49.99 | $59.92 |
Detailed Morganton Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Morganton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $221.84 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
Morganton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Morganton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Morganton. 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, 1.2x Morganton.
Hickory, NC has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Morganton.
Cornelius, NC has a cost of living index of 124, 1.3x Morganton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Morganton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | 94,535 | 115 | 1.2x |
| Hickory, NC | 44,258 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Cornelius, NC | 32,783 | 124 | 1.3x |
| Boone, NC | 20,032 | 107 | 1.2x |
| Mount Holly, NC | 18,208 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Lincolnton, NC | 11,783 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Lake Norman of Catawba, NC | 9,906 | 130 | 1.4x |
| St. Stephens, NC | 9,457 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Conover, NC | 8,580 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Black Mountain, NC | 8,513 | 108 | 1.2x |
