What is the cost of living in Zebulon, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Zebulon has an overall cost of living index of 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Zebulon has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Zebulon ranks as #47 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Zebulon ranks as the #112 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Zebulon, check out:
Zebulon Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Zebulon. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Zebulon is 97.
The Groceries index in Zebulon is 100.
The Health index in Zebulon is 81.
The Housing index in Zebulon is 98.
The Transportation index in Zebulon is 98.
The Utilities index in Zebulon is 101.
| Living Expense | Zebulon | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 81 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 101 | 100 |
Zebulon 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
Zebulon, 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 Zebulon is $341,720.
The Median Rent in Zebulon is $1,109.
The Median Income in Zebulon is $79,112.
The Home Value To Income in Zebulon is 4.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Zebulon is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Zebulon | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $341,720 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,109 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $79,112 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.3x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Zebulon, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Zebulon Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Zebulon | 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 Zebulon Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Zebulon | 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 Zebulon Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Zebulon | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Zebulon Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Zebulon | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Zebulon Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Zebulon | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Zebulon SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Zebulon
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Zebulon. 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, 1.2x Zebulon.
Wake Forest, NC has a cost of living index of 117, 1.2x Zebulon.
Garner, NC has a cost of living index of 104, 1.1x Zebulon.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Zebulon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 116 | 1.2x |
| Wake Forest, NC | 52,844 | 117 | 1.2x |
| Garner, NC | 34,473 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Clayton, NC | 29,320 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Knightdale, NC | 20,214 | 107 | 1.1x |
| Wendell, NC | 13,064 | 102 | 1.1x |
| Rolesville, NC | 10,766 | 116 | 1.2x |
| Selma, NC | 6,817 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Archer Lodge, NC | 5,186 | 104 | 1.1x |
