What is the cost of living in Spring Lake, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Spring Lake has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Spring Lake has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Spring Lake ranks as #24 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Spring Lake ranks as the #135 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Spring Lake, check out:
Spring Lake Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Spring Lake. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Spring Lake is 102.
The Groceries index in Spring Lake is 96.
The Health index in Spring Lake is 69.
The Housing index in Spring Lake is 100.
The Transportation index in Spring Lake is 100.
The Utilities index in Spring Lake is 106.
| Living Expense | Spring Lake | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 69 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 101 | 100 |
Spring Lake 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
Spring Lake, 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 Spring Lake is $261,167.
The Median Rent in Spring Lake is $1,351.
The Median Income in Spring Lake is $51,958.
The Home Value To Income in Spring Lake is 5.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Spring Lake is 0.31x.
| Statistic | Spring Lake | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $261,167 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,351 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $51,958 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.0x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.31x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Spring Lake, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Spring Lake Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Spring Lake | 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 Spring Lake Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Spring Lake | 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 Spring Lake Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Spring Lake | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Spring Lake Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Spring Lake | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Spring Lake Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Spring Lake | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Spring Lake SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Spring Lake
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Spring Lake. 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 Spring Lake.
Fayetteville, NC has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Spring Lake.
Cary, NC has a cost of living index of 123, 1.4x Spring Lake.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Spring Lake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 116 | 1.3x |
| Fayetteville, NC | 210,815 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Cary, NC | 179,306 | 123 | 1.4x |
| Apex, NC | 70,630 | 121 | 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 |
| Pinehurst, NC | 18,256 | 118 | 1.3x |
