What is the cost of living in Mount Airy, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Mount Airy has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Mount Airy has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Mount Airy ranks as #24 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Mount Airy ranks as the #135 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Mount Airy, check out:
Mount Airy Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Mount Airy. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Mount Airy is 99.
The Groceries index in Mount Airy is 100.
The Health index in Mount Airy is 67.
The Housing index in Mount Airy is 100.
The Transportation index in Mount Airy is 96.
The Utilities index in Mount Airy is 94.
| Living Expense | Mount Airy | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 67 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 101 | 100 |
Mount Airy 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
Mount Airy, 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 Mount Airy is $210,208.
The Median Rent in Mount Airy is $725.
The Median Income in Mount Airy is $40,275.
The Home Value To Income in Mount Airy is 5.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Mount Airy is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Mount Airy | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $210,208 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $725 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $40,275 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.2x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Mount Airy, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Mount Airy Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Mount Airy | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.25 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.58 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $22.17 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $52.72 | $45.56 |
Detailed Mount Airy Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Mount Airy | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.81 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.58 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.01 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.34 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.17 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.64 | $3.7 |
Detailed Mount Airy Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Mount Airy | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $147.25 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.28 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $126.56 | $113.29 |
Detailed Mount Airy Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Mount Airy | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.31 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $48.78 | $59.92 |
Detailed Mount Airy Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Mount Airy | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $163.41 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
Mount Airy SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Mount Airy
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Mount Airy. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Winston-Salem, NC has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Mount Airy.
Kernersville, NC has a cost of living index of 102, 1.1x Mount Airy.
Christiansburg, VA has a cost of living index of 103, 1.1x Mount Airy.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Mount Airy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem, NC | 252,037 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Kernersville, NC | 27,830 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Christiansburg, VA | 22,720 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Clemmons, NC | 21,871 | 108 | 1.2x |
| Lewisville, NC | 13,828 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Summerfield, NC | 11,116 | 121 | 1.3x |
| Oak Ridge, NC | 7,744 | 136 | 1.5x |
| King, NC | 7,408 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Mocksville, NC | 6,068 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Stokesdale, NC | 6,004 | 108 | 1.2x |
