Rocky Mount, NC Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Rocky Mount, NC Summary

Cost of living in Rocky Mount research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Rocky Mount is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in North Carolina, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Rocky Mount is 87, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Rocky Mount is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Rocky Mount ranks as the #17 cheapest in North Carolina out of 157.

  • Rocky Mount ranks as the #777 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Rocky Mount is $187,268.

  • The median income in Rocky Mount is $52,927.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
87
Rocky Mount's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Rocky Mount, NC?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Rocky Mount has an overall cost of living index of 87, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to North Carolina, Rocky Mount has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than North Carolina's index of 92.

The standard of living in Rocky Mount ranks as #17 most affordable out of the 157 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Rocky Mount ranks as the #140 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.

For more reading on life in Rocky Mount, check out:

17 out of 157
In North Carolina
777 out of 6,489
In America

Rocky Mount Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Rocky Mount. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Rocky Mount is 101.

  • The Groceries index in Rocky Mount is 96.

  • The Health index in Rocky Mount is 113.

  • The Housing index in Rocky Mount is 67.

  • The Transportation index in Rocky Mount is 92.

  • The Utilities index in Rocky Mount is 97.

Living Expense Rocky Mount North Carolina National Average
Overall 87 92 100
Services 101 100 100
Groceries 96 99 100
Health 113 106 100
Housing 67 86 100
Transportation 92 93 100
Utilities 97 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
Rocky Mount Cost of Living Vs. NC

Rocky Mount, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Rocky Mount is $187,268.

  • The Median Rent in Rocky Mount is $919.

  • The Median Income in Rocky Mount is $52,927.

  • The Home Value To Income in Rocky Mount is 3.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Rocky Mount is 0.21x.

Statistic Rocky Mount North Carolina United States
Median Home Value $187,268 $332,681 $303,400
Median Rent $919 $1,162 $1,348
Median Income $52,927 $69,904 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.5x 4.8x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.21x 0.2x 0.21x
$187,268
Median Home Value
$919
Median Rent
$52,927
Median Income

Rocky Mount, NC Costs By Category

Detailed Rocky Mount Services Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Rocky Mount North Carolina
Shampoo $1.09 $1.28
Movie $10.27 $12.13
Bowling $11.0 $18
Haircut $19.0 $24.26
Beauty Salon $29.58 $45.56

Detailed Rocky Mount Groceries Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Rocky Mount North Carolina
Ground Beef $5.93 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.59 $1.57
Milk $4.57 $4.67
Potatoes $5.18 $4.93
Pizza $10.47 $12.09
Beer $10.29 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.65 $3.7

Detailed Rocky Mount Health Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Rocky Mount North Carolina
Optometrist $141.56 $125.68
Doctor $136.38 $135.78
Dentist $100.17 $113.29

Detailed Rocky Mount Transportation Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Rocky Mount North Carolina
Gasoline $3.45 $3.46
Tire Balancing $63.55 $59.92

Detailed Rocky Mount Utilities Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Rocky Mount North Carolina
All Electricity $201.14 $193.99
Phone $187.32 $192.25

Rocky Mount SnackAbility

3
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
6
Affordability
7
Diversity
8.5
Safety
3
Amenities
8.5
Education
6
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Rocky Mount

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Rocky Mount. 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 112, 1.3x Rocky Mount.

  • Greenville, NC has a cost of living index of 96, 1.1x Rocky Mount.

  • Wake Forest, NC has a cost of living index of 117, 1.3x Rocky Mount.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Rocky Mount
Raleigh, NC 470,763 112 1.3x
Greenville, NC 88,540 96 1.1x
Wake Forest, NC 51,199 117 1.3x
Garner, NC 32,543 106 1.2x
Clayton, NC 28,043 103 1.2x
Knightdale, NC 19,532 105 1.2x
Roanoke Rapids, NC 15,024 86 1.0x
Wendell, NC 11,585 102 1.2x
Tarboro, NC 10,705 88 1.0x
Winterville, NC 10,624 92 1.1x

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