What is the cost of living in Rockingham, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Rockingham has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Rockingham has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Rockingham ranks as #10 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Rockingham ranks as the #149 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Rockingham, check out:
Rockingham Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Rockingham. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Rockingham is 99.
The Groceries index in Rockingham is 97.
The Health index in Rockingham is 57.
The Housing index in Rockingham is 102.
The Transportation index in Rockingham is 96.
The Utilities index in Rockingham is 96.
| Living Expense | Rockingham | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 57 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 101 | 100 |
Rockingham 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
Rockingham, 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 Rockingham is $134,002.
The Median Rent in Rockingham is $659.
The Median Income in Rockingham is $37,224.
The Home Value To Income in Rockingham is 3.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Rockingham is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Rockingham | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $134,002 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $659 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $37,224 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.6x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Rockingham, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Rockingham Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Rockingham | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.55 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $59.75 | $45.56 |
Detailed Rockingham Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Rockingham | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.27 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.96 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.47 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Rockingham Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Rockingham | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $143.74 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $148.29 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.52 | $113.29 |
Detailed Rockingham Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Rockingham | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.32 | $59.92 |
Detailed Rockingham Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Rockingham | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $167.89 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.9 | $192.25 |
Rockingham SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Rockingham
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Rockingham. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Fayetteville, NC has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Rockingham.
Monroe, NC has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Rockingham.
Pinehurst, NC has a cost of living index of 118, 1.3x Rockingham.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, NC | 210,815 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Monroe, NC | 36,759 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Pinehurst, NC | 18,256 | 118 | 1.3x |
| Hope Mills, NC | 17,939 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Albemarle, NC | 16,762 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Southern Pines, NC | 16,420 | 112 | 1.3x |
| Laurinburg, NC | 15,087 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Aberdeen, NC | 9,228 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Unionville, NC | 6,954 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Hamlet, NC | 5,961 | 87 | 1.0x |
