What is the cost of living in Washington, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Washington has an overall cost of living index of 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Washington has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Washington ranks as #47 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Washington ranks as the #112 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Washington, check out:
Washington Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Washington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Washington is 99.
The Groceries index in Washington is 97.
The Health index in Washington is 77.
The Housing index in Washington is 98.
The Transportation index in Washington is 96.
The Utilities index in Washington is 104.
| Living Expense | Washington | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 77 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 101 | 100 |
Washington 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
Washington, 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 Washington is $242,528.
The Median Rent in Washington is $856.
The Median Income in Washington is $40,186.
The Home Value To Income in Washington is 6.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Washington is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Washington | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $242,528 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $856 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $40,186 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.0x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Washington, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Washington Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Washington | 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 Washington Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Washington | 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 Washington Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Washington | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Washington Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Washington | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Washington Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Washington | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Washington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Washington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Washington. 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, 1.0x Washington.
New Bern, NC has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x Washington.
Kinston, NC has a cost of living index of 89, 0.9x Washington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, NC | 92,857 | 95 | 1.0x |
| New Bern, NC | 32,734 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Kinston, NC | 19,505 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Havelock, NC | 17,691 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Tarboro, NC | 10,770 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Winterville, NC | 10,725 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Williamston, NC | 5,112 | 86 | 0.9x |
