What is the cost of living in Selma, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Selma has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Selma has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Selma ranks as #24 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Selma ranks as the #135 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Selma, check out:
Selma Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Selma. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Selma is 101.
The Groceries index in Selma is 97.
The Health index in Selma is 65.
The Housing index in Selma is 101.
The Transportation index in Selma is 101.
The Utilities index in Selma is 98.
| Living Expense | Selma | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 65 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Selma 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
Selma, 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 Selma is $275,820.
The Median Rent in Selma is $820.
The Median Income in Selma is $41,368.
The Home Value To Income in Selma is 6.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Selma is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Selma | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $275,820 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $820 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $41,368 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.7x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Selma, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Selma Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Selma | 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 Selma Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Selma | 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 Selma Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Selma | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Selma Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Selma | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Selma Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Selma | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Selma SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Selma
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Selma. 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 Selma.
Cary, NC has a cost of living index of 123, 1.4x Selma.
Apex, NC has a cost of living index of 121, 1.3x Selma.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Selma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 116 | 1.3x |
| Cary, NC | 179,306 | 123 | 1.4x |
| Apex, NC | 70,630 | 121 | 1.3x |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 61,607 | 133 | 1.5x |
| Wake Forest, NC | 52,844 | 117 | 1.3x |
| Holly Springs, NC | 45,248 | 126 | 1.4x |
| Fuquay-Varina, NC | 40,485 | 112 | 1.2x |
| Garner, NC | 34,473 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Morrisville, NC | 31,422 | 121 | 1.3x |
| Clayton, NC | 29,320 | 102 | 1.1x |
