What is the cost of living in Williamston, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Williamston has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Williamston has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Williamston ranks as #1 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Williamston ranks as the #158 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Williamston, check out:
Williamston Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Williamston. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Williamston is 99.
The Groceries index in Williamston is 94.
The Health index in Williamston is 59.
The Housing index in Williamston is 98.
The Transportation index in Williamston is 93.
The Utilities index in Williamston is 104.
| Living Expense | Williamston | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 59 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 93 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 101 | 100 |
Williamston 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
Williamston, 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 Williamston is $131,110.
The Median Rent in Williamston is $684.
The Median Income in Williamston is $38,738.
The Home Value To Income in Williamston is 3.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Williamston is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Williamston | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $131,110 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $684 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $38,738 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.4x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Williamston, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Williamston Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Williamston | 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 Williamston Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Williamston | 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 Williamston Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Williamston | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Williamston Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Williamston | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Williamston Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Williamston | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Williamston SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Williamston
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Williamston. 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 Williamston.
Rocky Mount, NC has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Williamston.
Wilson, NC has a cost of living index of 95, 1.1x Williamston.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Williamston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, NC | 92,857 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 54,297 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Wilson, NC | 48,370 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Kinston, NC | 19,505 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Tarboro, NC | 10,770 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Winterville, NC | 10,725 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Washington, NC | 9,726 | 94 | 1.1x |
