What is the cost of living in Salisbury, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Salisbury has an overall cost of living index of 95, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Salisbury has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Salisbury ranks as #55 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Salisbury ranks as the #104 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Salisbury, check out:
Salisbury Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Salisbury. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Salisbury is 102.
The Groceries index in Salisbury is 100.
The Health index in Salisbury is 81.
The Housing index in Salisbury is 97.
The Transportation index in Salisbury is 101.
The Utilities index in Salisbury is 100.
| Living Expense | Salisbury | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 81 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
Salisbury 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
Salisbury, 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 Salisbury is $280,645.
The Median Rent in Salisbury is $1,071.
The Median Income in Salisbury is $53,716.
The Home Value To Income in Salisbury is 5.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Salisbury is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Salisbury | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $280,645 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,071 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $53,716 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.2x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Salisbury, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Salisbury Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Salisbury | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.67 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.63 | $18 |
| Haircut | $30.02 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $39.6 | $45.56 |
Detailed Salisbury Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Salisbury | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.12 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.55 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.66 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.3 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.64 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.31 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Salisbury Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Salisbury | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $131.75 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.27 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $130.26 | $113.29 |
Detailed Salisbury Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Salisbury | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.19 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.92 | $59.92 |
Detailed Salisbury Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Salisbury | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $160.96 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.97 | $192.25 |
Salisbury SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Salisbury
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Salisbury. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Indian Trail, NC has a cost of living index of 111, 1.2x Salisbury.
Cornelius, NC has a cost of living index of 124, 1.3x Salisbury.
Matthews, NC has a cost of living index of 117, 1.2x Salisbury.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Trail, NC | 42,036 | 111 | 1.2x |
| Cornelius, NC | 32,783 | 124 | 1.3x |
| Matthews, NC | 30,577 | 117 | 1.2x |
| Clemmons, NC | 21,871 | 108 | 1.1x |
| Harrisburg, NC | 19,633 | 117 | 1.2x |
| Stallings, NC | 16,886 | 114 | 1.2x |
| Davidson, NC | 15,660 | 131 | 1.4x |
| Weddington, NC | 13,805 | 146 | 1.5x |
| Wesley Chapel, NC | 9,090 | 127 | 1.3x |
| Marvin, NC | 6,692 | 183 | 1.9x |
