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 94, 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 95.
The standard of living in Smithfield ranks as #47 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Smithfield ranks as the #112 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Smithfield, check out:
Smithfield Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Smithfield. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Smithfield is 103.
The Groceries index in Smithfield is 100.
The Health index in Smithfield is 76.
The Housing index in Smithfield is 97.
The Transportation index in Smithfield is 100.
The Utilities index in Smithfield is 100.
| Living Expense | Smithfield | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 76 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 100 | 101 | 100 |
Smithfield 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
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Smithfield is $293,390.
The Median Rent in Smithfield is $658.
The Median Income in Smithfield is $43,270.
The Home Value To Income in Smithfield is 6.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Smithfield is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Smithfield | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $293,390 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $658 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $43,270 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.8x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
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
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 116, 1.2x Smithfield.
Cary, NC has a cost of living index of 123, 1.3x Smithfield.
Apex, NC has a cost of living index of 121, 1.3x Smithfield.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 116 | 1.2x |
| Cary, NC | 179,306 | 123 | 1.3x |
| Apex, NC | 70,630 | 121 | 1.3x |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 61,607 | 133 | 1.4x |
| Wake Forest, NC | 52,844 | 117 | 1.2x |
| Holly Springs, NC | 45,248 | 126 | 1.3x |
| Garner, NC | 34,473 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Morrisville, NC | 31,422 | 121 | 1.3x |
| Clayton, NC | 29,320 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Carrboro, NC | 21,204 | 128 | 1.4x |
