What is the cost of living in Tarboro, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Tarboro has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Tarboro has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Tarboro ranks as #24 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Tarboro ranks as the #135 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Tarboro, check out:
Tarboro Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Tarboro. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Tarboro is 98.
The Groceries index in Tarboro is 101.
The Health index in Tarboro is 74.
The Housing index in Tarboro is 97.
The Transportation index in Tarboro is 97.
The Utilities index in Tarboro is 96.
| Living Expense | Tarboro | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 74 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 101 | 100 |
Tarboro 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
Tarboro, 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 Tarboro is $152,776.
The Median Rent in Tarboro is $843.
The Median Income in Tarboro is $49,796.
The Home Value To Income in Tarboro is 3.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Tarboro is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Tarboro | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $152,776 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $843 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $49,796 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.1x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Tarboro, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Tarboro Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Tarboro | 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 Tarboro Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Tarboro | 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 Tarboro Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Tarboro | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Tarboro Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Tarboro | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Tarboro Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Tarboro | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Tarboro SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Tarboro
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Tarboro. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Greenville, NC has a cost of living index of 95, 1.1x Tarboro.
Rocky Mount, NC has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Tarboro.
Wilson, NC has a cost of living index of 95, 1.1x Tarboro.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Tarboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, NC | 92,857 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 54,297 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Wilson, NC | 48,370 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Roanoke Rapids, NC | 14,856 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Wendell, NC | 13,064 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Winterville, NC | 10,725 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Washington, NC | 9,726 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Selma, NC | 6,817 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Nashville, NC | 5,729 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Williamston, NC | 5,112 | 86 | 1.0x |
