Smithfield, NC Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Smithfield, NC Summary

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

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

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

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

  • The median home value in Smithfield is $289,440.

  • The median income in Smithfield is $37,827.

Table Of Contents

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

What is the cost of living in Smithfield, NC?

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

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

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

For more reading on life in Smithfield, check out:

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

Smithfield Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina

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

  • The Services index in Smithfield is 98.

  • The Groceries index in Smithfield is 100.

  • The Health index in Smithfield is 112.

  • The Housing index in Smithfield is 75.

  • The Transportation index in Smithfield is 94.

  • The Utilities index in Smithfield is 99.

Living Expense Smithfield North Carolina National Average
Overall 92 92 100
Services 98 100 100
Groceries 100 99 100
Health 112 106 100
Housing 75 86 100
Transportation 94 93 100
Utilities 99 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
Smithfield Cost of Living Vs. NC

Smithfield, 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 Smithfield is $289,440.

  • The Median Rent in Smithfield is $601.

  • The Median Income in Smithfield is $37,827.

  • The Home Value To Income in Smithfield is 7.7x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Smithfield is 0.19x.

Statistic Smithfield North Carolina United States
Median Home Value $289,440 $332,681 $303,400
Median Rent $601 $1,162 $1,348
Median Income $37,827 $69,904 $78,538
Home Value To Income 7.7x 4.8x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.19x 0.2x 0.21x
$289,440
Median Home Value
$601
Median Rent
$37,827
Median Income

Smithfield, NC Costs By Category

Detailed Smithfield Services Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Smithfield 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 Smithfield Groceries Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Smithfield 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 Smithfield Health Costs Vs. North Carolina

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

Detailed Smithfield Transportation Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Smithfield North Carolina
Gasoline $3.45 $3.46
Tire Balancing $63.55 $59.92

Detailed Smithfield Utilities Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Smithfield North Carolina
All Electricity $201.14 $193.99
Phone $187.32 $192.25

Smithfield SnackAbility

3
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
5
Affordability
5
Diversity
9.5
Safety
4
Amenities
8
Education
6
Commute
8.5

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Smithfield

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Smithfield. 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 Smithfield.

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

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

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Smithfield
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
Clayton, NC 28,043 103 1.1x
Carrboro, NC 21,170 121 1.3x

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