What is the cost of living in St. Stephens, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, St. Stephens has an overall cost of living index of 93, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, St. Stephens has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in St. Stephens ranks as #39 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies St. Stephens ranks as the #120 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in St. Stephens, check out:
St. Stephens Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in St. Stephens. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in St. Stephens is 99.
The Groceries index in St. Stephens is 103.
The Health index in St. Stephens is 74.
The Housing index in St. Stephens is 94.
The Transportation index in St. Stephens is 99.
The Utilities index in St. Stephens is 99.
| Living Expense | St. Stephens | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 74 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 101 | 100 |
St. Stephens 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. Stephens, 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. Stephens is $248,375.
The Median Rent in St. Stephens is $958.
The Median Income in St. Stephens is $60,394.
The Home Value To Income in St. Stephens is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in St. Stephens is 0.19x.
| Statistic | St. Stephens | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $248,375 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $958 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $60,394 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.1x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
St. Stephens, NC Costs By Category
Detailed St. Stephens Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | St. Stephens | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.34 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.67 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $18.63 | $18 |
| Haircut | $30.02 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $39.6 | $45.56 |
Detailed St. Stephens Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | St. Stephens | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.12 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.55 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.66 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.3 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.64 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.31 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed St. Stephens Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | St. Stephens | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $131.75 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.27 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $130.26 | $113.29 |
Detailed St. Stephens Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | St. Stephens | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.19 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $57.92 | $59.92 |
Detailed St. Stephens Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | St. Stephens | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $160.96 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.97 | $192.25 |
St. Stephens SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around St. Stephens
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around St. Stephens. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Hickory, NC has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x St. Stephens.
Lenoir, NC has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x St. Stephens.
Newton, NC has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x St. Stephens.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. St. Stephens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NC | 44,258 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Lenoir, NC | 18,299 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Newton, NC | 13,333 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Lake Norman of Catawba, NC | 9,906 | 130 | 1.4x |
| Conover, NC | 8,580 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Sawmills, NC | 5,042 | 89 | 1.0x |
