What is the cost of living in Wendell, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Wendell has an overall cost of living index of 102, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Wendell has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Wendell ranks as #88 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Wendell ranks as the #71 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Wendell, check out:
Wendell Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Wendell. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Wendell is 101.
The Groceries index in Wendell is 101.
The Health index in Wendell is 106.
The Housing index in Wendell is 103.
The Transportation index in Wendell is 101.
The Utilities index in Wendell is 105.
| Living Expense | Wendell | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 102 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 106 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 105 | 101 | 100 |
Wendell 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
Wendell, 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 Wendell is $369,603.
The Median Rent in Wendell is $1,457.
The Median Income in Wendell is $95,787.
The Home Value To Income in Wendell is 3.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Wendell is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Wendell | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $369,603 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,457 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $95,787 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.9x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Wendell, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Wendell Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Wendell | 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 Wendell Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Wendell | 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 Wendell Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Wendell | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Wendell Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Wendell | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Wendell Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Wendell | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Wendell SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Wendell
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Wendell. 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, 1.1x Wendell.
Wake Forest, NC has a cost of living index of 117, 1.1x Wendell.
Garner, NC has a cost of living index of 104, 1.0x Wendell.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Wake Forest, NC | 52,844 | 117 | 1.1x |
| Garner, NC | 34,473 | 104 | 1.0x |
| Clayton, NC | 29,320 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Knightdale, NC | 20,214 | 107 | 1.0x |
| Smithfield, NC | 12,116 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Rolesville, NC | 10,766 | 116 | 1.1x |
| Zebulon, NC | 8,711 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Selma, NC | 6,817 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Archer Lodge, NC | 5,186 | 104 | 1.0x |
