What is the cost of living in Wake Forest, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Wake Forest has an overall cost of living index of 117, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Wake Forest has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Wake Forest ranks as #135 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Wake Forest ranks as the #24 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Wake Forest, check out:
Wake Forest Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Wake Forest. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Wake Forest is 99.
The Groceries index in Wake Forest is 101.
The Health index in Wake Forest is 160.
The Housing index in Wake Forest is 100.
The Transportation index in Wake Forest is 99.
The Utilities index in Wake Forest is 103.
| Living Expense | Wake Forest | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 117 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 160 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 101 | 100 |
Wake Forest 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
Wake Forest, 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 Wake Forest is $512,160.
The Median Rent in Wake Forest is $1,596.
The Median Income in Wake Forest is $123,802.
The Home Value To Income in Wake Forest is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Wake Forest is 0.15x.
| Statistic | Wake Forest | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $512,160 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,596 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $123,802 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.1x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.15x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Wake Forest, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Wake Forest Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Wake Forest | 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 Wake Forest Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Wake Forest | 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 Wake Forest Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Wake Forest | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Wake Forest Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Wake Forest | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Wake Forest Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Wake Forest | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Wake Forest SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Wake Forest
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Wake Forest. 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, 1.0x Wake Forest.
Garner, NC has a cost of living index of 104, 0.9x Wake Forest.
Knightdale, NC has a cost of living index of 107, 0.9x Wake Forest.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Wake Forest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Garner, NC | 34,473 | 104 | 0.9x |
| Knightdale, NC | 20,214 | 107 | 0.9x |
| Wendell, NC | 13,064 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Rolesville, NC | 10,766 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Zebulon, NC | 8,711 | 94 | 0.8x |
| Butner, NC | 8,065 | 99 | 0.8x |
