What is the cost of living in Oak Ridge, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Oak Ridge has an overall cost of living index of 136, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Oak Ridge has a cost of living index that's 1.4x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Oak Ridge ranks as #156 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Oak Ridge ranks as the #3 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Oak Ridge, check out:
Oak Ridge Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Oak Ridge. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Oak Ridge is 102.
The Groceries index in Oak Ridge is 103.
The Health index in Oak Ridge is 221.
The Housing index in Oak Ridge is 101.
The Transportation index in Oak Ridge is 103.
The Utilities index in Oak Ridge is 95.
| Living Expense | Oak Ridge | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 136 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 221 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 101 | 100 |
Oak Ridge 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 Ridge, 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 Ridge is $599,278.
The Median Rent in Oak Ridge is $3,009.
The Median Income in Oak Ridge is $155,385.
The Home Value To Income in Oak Ridge is 3.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Oak Ridge is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Oak Ridge | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $599,278 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,009 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $155,385 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.9x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Oak Ridge, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Oak Ridge Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Oak Ridge | 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 Oak Ridge Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Oak Ridge | 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 Oak Ridge Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Oak Ridge | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $147.25 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.28 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $126.56 | $113.29 |
Detailed Oak Ridge Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Oak Ridge | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.31 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $48.78 | $59.92 |
Detailed Oak Ridge Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Oak Ridge | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $163.41 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
Oak Ridge SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Oak Ridge
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Oak Ridge. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Greensboro, NC has a cost of living index of 99, 0.7x Oak Ridge.
Winston-Salem, NC has a cost of living index of 93, 0.7x Oak Ridge.
High Point, NC has a cost of living index of 96, 0.7x Oak Ridge.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Oak Ridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro, NC | 301,198 | 99 | 0.7x |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 252,037 | 93 | 0.7x |
| High Point, NC | 116,245 | 96 | 0.7x |
| Kernersville, NC | 27,830 | 102 | 0.8x |
| Jamestown, ND | 15,787 | 94 | 0.7x |
| Archdale, NC | 12,087 | 93 | 0.7x |
| Summerfield, NC | 11,116 | 121 | 0.9x |
| Stokesdale, NC | 6,004 | 108 | 0.8x |
