What is the cost of living in Oxford, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Oxford has an overall cost of living index of 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Oxford has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Oxford ranks as #47 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Oxford ranks as the #112 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Oxford, check out:
Oxford Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Oxford. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Oxford is 98.
The Groceries index in Oxford is 98.
The Health index in Oxford is 81.
The Housing index in Oxford is 101.
The Transportation index in Oxford is 98.
The Utilities index in Oxford is 101.
| Living Expense | Oxford | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 81 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | 100 |
Oxford 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
Oxford, 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 Oxford is $255,872.
The Median Rent in Oxford is $995.
The Median Income in Oxford is $43,054.
The Home Value To Income in Oxford is 5.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Oxford is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Oxford | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $255,872 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $995 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $43,054 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.9x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Oxford, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Oxford Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Oxford | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.67 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.2 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.1 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $53.19 | $45.56 |
Detailed Oxford Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Oxford | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.13 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.5 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.05 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.79 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.35 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Oxford Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Oxford | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $113.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $146.11 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Oxford Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Oxford | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.36 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Oxford Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Oxford | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $191.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.28 | $192.25 |
Oxford SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Oxford
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Oxford. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Raleigh, NC has a cost of living index of 116, 1.2x Oxford.
Cary, NC has a cost of living index of 123, 1.3x Oxford.
Apex, NC has a cost of living index of 121, 1.3x Oxford.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 116 | 1.2x |
| Cary, NC | 179,306 | 123 | 1.3x |
| Apex, NC | 70,630 | 121 | 1.3x |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 61,607 | 133 | 1.4x |
| Wake Forest, NC | 52,844 | 117 | 1.2x |
| Holly Springs, NC | 45,248 | 126 | 1.3x |
| Garner, NC | 34,473 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Morrisville, NC | 31,422 | 121 | 1.3x |
| Carrboro, NC | 21,204 | 128 | 1.4x |
| Knightdale, NC | 20,214 | 107 | 1.1x |
