Cost of Living in North Carolina: Cities Where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2025
What is the cost of living in North Carolina? doxo breaks down key insights about North Carolina’s household expenses, with a close look into how bills differ between towns and cities across the state.
According to doxo’s The Cost of Bills Index™ (COBI), the average household in North Carolina pays $1,831 in monthly expenses. doxoINSIGHTS compares the cost of the ten most common household bills across different regions. This includes Utilities, Cable & Internet, Mobile Phone, Auto Loans, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Alarm & Security, Rent, and Mortgage.
The data sheds light on North Carolina’s cost of living through other metrics as well. For example, the “percent of household income” data point shows what percentage of their household income residents spend on bills each month.
By leveraging these tools, residents can gain a clearer understanding of their household expenses and optimize their financial planning.
North Carolina ranks as the 25th most expensive state in the US for household bills
According to doxo’s COBI report, North Carolina is ranked as the 25th most expensive state in the U.S. for household bills.
At $21,972 per year, North Carolina’s household expenses, on average, are 11% lower than the US median of $24,695.
Absolute dollar amounts don’t tell the full story, however. doxo’s “Percentage of Household Income” data provides a more proportional look at bill spending in a particular location. North Carolina households spend 30% of their income on bills.
COBI helps consumers understand how much it costs to live in one area as compared to another as it relates to the most common household bills. For COBI, the number 100 represents the national median and then, states, counties and cities are assigned a number, either above or below 100, based on how they compare to the national median. The COBI for North Carolina is 89.
- Median Bill Cost per Household: $1,831 per month
- Cost of Bills Index(COBI): 89
- doxoINSIGHTS State Rank: #25
- Percent of Household Income Used for Bills: 30%
- Compared to the National Median: 11% lower
North Carolina Household Expenses are 11% Lower Than the National Median
The average North Carolina household pays $1,831 per month in the 10 most common household bills. The least expensive of these are alarm and security bills.
On the lowest end of the spectrum, the median monthly payment for alarm and security bills in North Carolina is $67, compared to the national median of $74, making it 9% lower than the national median.
Monthly mortgage bills are the most significant of the 10 most common bills for North Carolina residents. The median monthly mortgage payment is $1,339, compared to the national median of $1,775, making it 25% less expensive.
Median North Carolina Household Bill Spending
| Bill Category | Median North Carolina Monthly Bill | National Median Monthly Bill | North Carolina Percent +/- National Median ($2,126) |
| Mortgage | $1,339 | $1,775 | 25% lower |
| Rent | $1,187 | $1,453 | 18% lower |
| Auto Loan | $456 | $470 | 3% lower |
| Auto Insurance | $130 | $105 | 24% higher |
| Health Insurance | $92 | $72 | 28% higher |
| Mobile Phone | $95 | $96 | 1% lower |
| Cable & Internet | $125 | $121 | 3% higher |
| Life Insurance | $55 | $60 | 8% lower |
| Alarm & Security | $67 | $74 | 9% lower |
| Total | $1,831 | $2,065 | 11% lower |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Waves has the highest cost of living in North Carolina for household bills
Residents of Waves pay the highest household bills in the state of North Carolina, at a median of $3,134 per month. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Waves is 152, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 52% higher than the national median.
In proportion to household income, monthly bills in Waves make up 56% of the median annual household income of $67,054.
Access detailed infographics about each city or town by clicking on the hyperlinks in the “City” column in the tables below. You can also browse doxoINSIGHTS’ regional bill comparison database to see infographics about more than 4,200 cities and towns across all 50 states in the US.
5 Most Expensive North Carolina Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Median Income | Monthly Bill Expenses Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Median | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Waves | $67,054 | $3,314 | 152 | 52% higher | 56% |
| 2 | Kitty Hawk | $109,443 | $3,083 | 149 | 49% higher | 34% |
| 3 | Hatteras | $48,980 | $3,064 | 148 | 48% higher | 75% |
| 4 | Wrightsville Beach | $165,682 | $2,956 | 143 | 43% higher | 21% |
| 5 | Corolla | $104,808 | $2,913 | 141 | 41% higher | 33% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Cliffside has the lowest cost of living in North Carolina for household bills
Cliffside is the most affordable place in North Carolina, with residents paying $873 on average for household bills, accounting for 17% of annual income of $60,439. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Cliffside is 42, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 58% below the national median.
East Spencer is the second most affordable city in North Carolina, with residents paying $912 per month on average.
Also on the list of the 5 least expensive cities in North Carolina are Southmont ($932), Lakeview ($940) and Severn ($945).
5 Most Affordable North Carolina Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Median Income | Monthly Bill Expense Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Median | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Cliffside | $60,439 | $873 | 42 | 58% lower | 17% |
| 2 | East Spencer | $63,396 | $912 | 44 | 56% lower | 17% |
| 3 | Southmont | $54,468 | $932 | 45 | 55% lower | 21% |
| 4 | Lakeview | $87,407 | $940 | 46 | 54% lower | 13% |
| 5 | Severn | $70,691 | $945 | 46 | 54% lower | 16% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Some individuals might be considering moving from a more expensive city to a less expensive one. For those making such decisions, doxoINSIGHTS can be a valuable resource. It allows consumers to compare household expenses in North Carolina with average bills in various cities and states nationwide.