What is the cost of living in Oak Island, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Oak Island has an overall cost of living index of 110, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Oak Island has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Oak Island ranks as #113 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Oak Island ranks as the #46 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Oak Island, check out:
Oak Island Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Oak Island. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Oak Island is 99.
The Groceries index in Oak Island is 99.
The Health index in Oak Island is 135.
The Housing index in Oak Island is 96.
The Transportation index in Oak Island is 99.
The Utilities index in Oak Island is 99.
| Living Expense | Oak Island | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 110 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 135 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 101 | 100 |
Oak Island 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
Oak Island, 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 Oak Island is $568,671.
The Median Rent in Oak Island is $1,339.
The Median Income in Oak Island is $85,872.
The Home Value To Income in Oak Island is 6.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Oak Island is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Oak Island | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $568,671 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,339 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $85,872 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.6x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Oak Island, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Oak Island Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Oak Island | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.38 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.3 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.43 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.38 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $56.15 | $45.56 |
Detailed Oak Island Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Oak Island | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.22 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.59 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.51 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.83 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.61 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.77 | $3.7 |
Detailed Oak Island Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Oak Island | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $78.1 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $137.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $97.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Oak Island Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Oak Island | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.18 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $46.64 | $59.92 |
Detailed Oak Island Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Oak Island | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $258.5 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $194.25 | $192.25 |
Oak Island SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Oak Island
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Oak Island. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Wilmington, NC has a cost of living index of 108, 1.0x Oak Island.
Leland, NC has a cost of living index of 110, 1.0x Oak Island.
Murraysville, NC has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Oak Island.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Oak Island |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NC | 120,805 | 108 | 1.0x |
| Leland, NC | 29,607 | 110 | 1.0x |
| Murraysville, NC | 16,339 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Myrtle Grove, NC | 12,637 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Kings Grant, NC | 9,003 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Ogden, NC | 8,249 | 122 | 1.1x |
| Porters Neck, NC | 7,654 | 124 | 1.1x |
| St. James, NC | 7,072 | 142 | 1.3x |
| Carolina Beach, NC | 6,745 | 122 | 1.1x |
| Silver Lake, NC | 6,563 | 98 | 0.9x |
