Most Affordable Cities in North Carolina

Cost of living rankings for 165 cities in North Carolina with uncapped home, rent, and income estimates. On average, North Carolina is near the national average with a statewide average Cost Index of 106.

1 source baseline is past its update cadence — newer official vintage not reflected
Cheapest City
Roanoke Rapids
Index: 74
Most Expensive
Weddington
Index: 189
State Average
106
National: 100
Cities Ranked
165
eligible statewide total

North Carolina Affordability Ranking

Showing 151–165 of 165 eligible cities — 15 on this page. Page 4 of 4.

#CityIndexHome ValueRentIncome
151Pinehurst133$537,061$2,071$109,802
152Briar Chapel133$570,300$1,745$166,063
153Summerfield134$513,859$2,388$160,275
154Holly Springs135$574,699$1,889$135,578
155Apex138$592,991$1,981$144,135
156Cary139$619,636$1,774$134,905
157Chapel Hill139$631,034$1,690$85,989
158St. James139$636,800$1,574$116,383
159Oak Island140$604,000$2,078$85,872
160Carolina Beach143$603,767$2,276$94,398
161Wesley Chapel144$657,159$1,785$132,188
162Davidson146$652,186$2,032$166,556
163Waxhaw159$709,982$2,582$131,894
164Lake Norman of Iredell166$887,400$1,429$173,542
165Weddington189$1,050,246$1,785$190,766

2026 edition — based on ACS 2024, Zillow 2026-08, HUD FY2027, and BEA 2024 dated sources. The edition year is not the observation year.

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