What is the cost of living in Southern Pines, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Southern Pines has an overall cost of living index of 112, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Southern Pines has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Southern Pines ranks as #121 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Southern Pines ranks as the #38 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Southern Pines, check out:
Southern Pines Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Southern Pines. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Southern Pines is 101.
The Groceries index in Southern Pines is 97.
The Health index in Southern Pines is 150.
The Housing index in Southern Pines is 99.
The Transportation index in Southern Pines is 98.
The Utilities index in Southern Pines is 95.
| Living Expense | Southern Pines | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 112 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 150 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 101 | 100 |
Southern Pines 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
Southern Pines, 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 Southern Pines is $456,115.
The Median Rent in Southern Pines is $1,354.
The Median Income in Southern Pines is $88,535.
The Home Value To Income in Southern Pines is 5.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Southern Pines is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Southern Pines | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $456,115 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,354 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $88,535 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.2x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Southern Pines, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Southern Pines Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Southern Pines | 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 Southern Pines Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Southern Pines | 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 Southern Pines Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Southern Pines | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $126.46 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $146.71 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $136.77 | $113.29 |
Detailed Southern Pines Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Southern Pines | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.32 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $42.85 | $59.92 |
Detailed Southern Pines Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Southern Pines | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $161.71 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
Southern Pines SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Southern Pines
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Southern Pines. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Fayetteville, NC has a cost of living index of 98, 0.9x Southern Pines.
Apex, NC has a cost of living index of 121, 1.1x Southern Pines.
Holly Springs, NC has a cost of living index of 126, 1.1x Southern Pines.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Southern Pines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, NC | 210,815 | 98 | 0.9x |
| Apex, NC | 70,630 | 121 | 1.1x |
| Holly Springs, NC | 45,248 | 126 | 1.1x |
| Fuquay-Varina, NC | 40,485 | 112 | 1.0x |
| Asheboro, NC | 27,580 | 87 | 0.8x |
| Pinehurst, NC | 18,256 | 118 | 1.1x |
| Hope Mills, NC | 17,939 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Albemarle, NC | 16,762 | 89 | 0.8x |
| Aberdeen, NC | 9,228 | 98 | 0.9x |
| Whispering Pines, NC | 5,211 | 125 | 1.1x |
