Sanford, NC Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Sanford, NC Summary

Cost of living in Sanford 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 Sanford 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 Sanford is 92, with 100 being the average.

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

  • Sanford ranks as the #47 cheapest in North Carolina out of 157.

  • Sanford ranks as the #1,501 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Sanford is $283,704.

  • The median income in Sanford is $54,294.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
92
Sanford's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Sanford, NC?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Sanford has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to North Carolina, Sanford has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than North Carolina's index of 92.

The standard of living in Sanford ranks as #47 most affordable out of the 157 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Sanford ranks as the #110 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.

For more reading on life in Sanford, check out:

47 out of 157
In North Carolina
1,501 out of 6,489
In America

Sanford Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina

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

  • The Services index in Sanford is 97.

  • The Groceries index in Sanford is 98.

  • The Health index in Sanford is 106.

  • The Housing index in Sanford is 81.

  • The Transportation index in Sanford is 94.

  • The Utilities index in Sanford is 91.

Living Expense Sanford North Carolina National Average
Overall 92 92 100
Services 97 100 100
Groceries 98 99 100
Health 106 106 100
Housing 81 86 100
Transportation 94 93 100
Utilities 91 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
Sanford Cost of Living Vs. NC

Sanford, 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 Sanford is $283,704.

  • The Median Rent in Sanford is $965.

  • The Median Income in Sanford is $54,294.

  • The Home Value To Income in Sanford is 5.2x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Sanford is 0.21x.

Statistic Sanford North Carolina United States
Median Home Value $283,704 $332,681 $303,400
Median Rent $965 $1,162 $1,348
Median Income $54,294 $69,904 $78,538
Home Value To Income 5.2x 4.8x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.21x 0.2x 0.21x
$283,704
Median Home Value
$965
Median Rent
$54,294
Median Income

Sanford, NC Costs By Category

Detailed Sanford Services Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Sanford North Carolina
Shampoo $1.33 $1.28
Movie $12.19 $12.13
Bowling $20.0 $18
Haircut $28.2 $24.26
Beauty Salon $50.33 $45.56

Detailed Sanford Groceries Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Sanford North Carolina
Ground Beef $6.28 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.36 $1.57
Milk $4.64 $4.67
Potatoes $4.99 $4.93
Pizza $10.73 $12.09
Beer $10.46 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.85 $3.7

Detailed Sanford Health Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Sanford North Carolina
Optometrist $126.46 $125.68
Doctor $146.71 $135.78
Dentist $136.77 $113.29

Detailed Sanford Transportation Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Sanford North Carolina
Gasoline $3.32 $3.46
Tire Balancing $42.85 $59.92

Detailed Sanford Utilities Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Sanford North Carolina
All Electricity $161.71 $193.99
Phone $186.82 $192.25

Sanford SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
6
Affordability
7
Diversity
10
Safety
N/A
Amenities
8
Education
5
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Sanford

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Sanford. 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, 1.2x Sanford.

  • Cary, NC has a cost of living index of 125, 1.4x Sanford.

  • Apex, NC has a cost of living index of 122, 1.3x Sanford.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Sanford
Raleigh, NC 470,763 112 1.2x
Cary, NC 176,686 125 1.4x
Apex, NC 67,765 122 1.3x
Chapel Hill, NC 59,889 129 1.4x
Wake Forest, NC 51,199 117 1.3x
Holly Springs, NC 43,429 125 1.4x
Garner, NC 32,543 106 1.2x
Morrisville, NC 30,471 120 1.3x
Carrboro, NC 21,170 121 1.3x
Knightdale, NC 19,532 105 1.1x

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