What is the cost of living in Waynesville, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Waynesville has an overall cost of living index of 98, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Waynesville has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Waynesville ranks as #72 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Waynesville ranks as the #87 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Waynesville, check out:
Waynesville Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Waynesville. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Waynesville is 103.
The Groceries index in Waynesville is 98.
The Health index in Waynesville is 91.
The Housing index in Waynesville is 101.
The Transportation index in Waynesville is 99.
The Utilities index in Waynesville is 108.
| Living Expense | Waynesville | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 91 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 108 | 101 | 100 |
Waynesville 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
Waynesville, 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 Waynesville is $355,351.
The Median Rent in Waynesville is $1,070.
The Median Income in Waynesville is $54,923.
The Home Value To Income in Waynesville is 6.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Waynesville is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Waynesville | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $355,351 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,070 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $54,923 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.5x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Waynesville, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Waynesville Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Waynesville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.33 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.07 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.89 | $18 |
| Haircut | $28.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.22 | $45.56 |
Detailed Waynesville Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Waynesville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.46 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.27 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.44 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.44 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.8 | $3.7 |
Detailed Waynesville Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Waynesville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $155.11 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $166.73 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $113.89 | $113.29 |
Detailed Waynesville Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Waynesville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $49.99 | $59.92 |
Detailed Waynesville Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Waynesville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $221.84 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.82 | $192.25 |
Waynesville SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Waynesville
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Waynesville. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Asheville, NC has a cost of living index of 115, 1.2x Waynesville.
Sevierville, TN has a cost of living index of 100, 1.0x Waynesville.
Hendersonville, NC has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Waynesville.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Waynesville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | 94,535 | 115 | 1.2x |
| Sevierville, TN | 18,397 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Hendersonville, NC | 15,408 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Black Mountain, NC | 8,513 | 108 | 1.1x |
| Fletcher, NC | 8,098 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Woodfin, NC | 8,048 | 112 | 1.1x |
| Cullowhee, NC | 7,973 | 112 | 1.1x |
| Etowah, NC | 7,968 | 106 | 1.1x |
| Brevard, NC | 7,897 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Mills River, NC | 7,281 | 113 | 1.2x |
