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 88, 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 95.
The standard of living in Rocky Mount ranks as #10 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Rocky Mount ranks as the #149 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Rocky Mount, check out:
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 fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Rocky Mount is 96.
The Groceries index in Rocky Mount is 100.
The Health index in Rocky Mount is 69.
The Housing index in Rocky Mount is 99.
The Transportation index in Rocky Mount is 98.
The Utilities index in Rocky Mount is 95.
| Living Expense | Rocky Mount | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 69 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 101 | 100 |
Rocky Mount 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
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Rocky Mount is $185,886.
The Median Rent in Rocky Mount is $957.
The Median Income in Rocky Mount is $55,534.
The Home Value To Income in Rocky Mount is 3.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Rocky Mount is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Rocky Mount | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $185,886 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $957 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $55,534 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.3x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
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
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 116, 1.3x Rocky Mount.
Greenville, NC has a cost of living index of 95, 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 | 481,031 | 116 | 1.3x |
| Greenville, NC | 92,857 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Wake Forest, NC | 52,844 | 117 | 1.3x |
| Garner, NC | 34,473 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Clayton, NC | 29,320 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Knightdale, NC | 20,214 | 107 | 1.2x |
| Roanoke Rapids, NC | 14,856 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Wendell, NC | 13,064 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Tarboro, NC | 10,770 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Winterville, NC | 10,725 | 96 | 1.1x |
