What is the cost of living in St. James, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, St. James has an overall cost of living index of 142, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, St. James has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in St. James ranks as #157 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies St. James ranks as the #2 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in St. James, check out:
St. James Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in St. James. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in St. James is 97.
The Groceries index in St. James is 99.
The Health index in St. James is 237.
The Housing index in St. James is 96.
The Transportation index in St. James is 99.
The Utilities index in St. James is 98.
| Living Expense | St. James | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 142 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 237 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
St. James 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
St. James, 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 St. James is $694,376.
The Median Rent in St. James is -.
The Median Income in St. James is $116,383.
The Home Value To Income in St. James is 6.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in St. James is nanx.
| Statistic | St. James | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $694,376 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | - | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $116,383 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.0x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | nanx | 0.2x | 0.21x |
St. James, NC Costs By Category
Detailed St. James Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | St. James | 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 St. James Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | St. James | 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 St. James Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | St. James | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed St. James Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | St. James | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed St. James Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | St. James | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
St. James SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around St. James
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around St. James. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Leland, NC has a cost of living index of 110, 0.8x St. James.
Myrtle Grove, NC has a cost of living index of 114, 0.8x St. James.
Oak Island, NC has a cost of living index of 110, 0.8x St. James.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. St. James |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leland, NC | 29,607 | 110 | 0.8x |
| Myrtle Grove, NC | 12,637 | 114 | 0.8x |
| Oak Island, NC | 9,030 | 110 | 0.8x |
| Carolina Beach, NC | 6,745 | 122 | 0.9x |
| Silver Lake, NC | 6,563 | 98 | 0.7x |
| Boiling Spring Lakes, NC | 6,347 | 99 | 0.7x |
