A+
9%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
26%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Albemarle North Carolina National
Cost of living9196100
Goods & Services99101100
Groceries97100100
Health care90110100
Housing7488100
Transportation9794100
Utilities10694100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Albemarle, NC

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Albemarle? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Albemarle stands at 91, making it 9% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

The cost of living in Albemarle is about average when compared to all other cities across the nation. You can expect that everyday items like food, goods and services and utility bills will be no more expensive than any other average city. Residents can anticipate living expenses that remain in line with the national average, ensuring a manageable financial burden, making it an attractive choice for those seeking affordability without the constraints of higher everyday expenditures.

Is Albemarle Affordable?

Is Albemarle affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Albemarle, for instance, where the median home price falls 29.2% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 18.2% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Albemarle flaunting a median household income of $65,149, 19.9% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Albemarle?

Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday goods and services like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Albemarle starts at 4.75% and the income tax rates start at 4.75%.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Albemarle, the healthcare costs are 10.3% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Albemarle cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Albemarle is 5% lower than the North Carolina average
  • The cost of living in Albemarle is 9% lower than the national average
  • Albemarle housing is 26% lower than the national average
  • North Carolina general sales tax is 7% lower than the national average
  • North Carolina state income tax is 83% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Albemarle

See all the best places to live around Albemarle

Compare Albemarle, NC Cost of Living

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      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$99,945$8,329$2,332$2,999
      Renters$31,957$2,663$746$959
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Albemarle, NC, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Albemarle homeowners, is $99,945. This would allow for a maximum of $2,332 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $31,957 which would result in a maximum of $746 to be spent on rental costs.

      North Carolina Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      North Carolina 4.75% 7.5%

      North Carolina Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      North Carolina 4.75% 4.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Albemarle National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.42$27.624.3%
      Beauty Salon $59.59$51.1116.6%
      Toothpaste $4.04$4.091.3%
      Shampoo $1.37$1.5411.2%
      Movie $11.38$12.8811.6%
      Yoga $13.36$19.6632.0%

      Groceries

      Item Albemarle National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $8.26$7.707.2%
      Fried Chicken $1.58$1.665.0%
      Milk $4.75$4.730.4%
      Potatoes $5.21$5.260.9%
      Pizza $11.31$12.7611.4%
      Beer $10.56$10.550.1%

      Health Care

      Item Albemarle National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $113.83$140.0618.7%
      Doctor $139.66$153.829.2%
      Dentist $98.06$123.1520.4%
      Ibuprofen $12.20$11.734.0%
      Lipitor $23.05$23.612.4%

      Housing

      Item Albemarle National avg. Difference
      Home Price $231,171.00$326,622.0029.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,894.74$2,480.2523.6%
      Apartment Rent $1,181.00$1,444.0018.2%

      Transportation

      Item Albemarle National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.18$3.063.9%
      Tire Balancing $52.12$65.2120.1%

      Utilities

      Item Albemarle National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $243.44$220.1210.6%
      Phone $190.98$195.712.4%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Aquadale, NC4288515.0%
      Badin, NC2,0438614.0%
      Millingport, NC4608712.9%
      Misenheimer, NC7188812.3%
      Norwood, NC2,901909.5%
      Albemarle, NC16,433918.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Sayville, NY16,43315353.0%
      Prospect Heights, IL16,43212020.0%
      Cherryland, CA16,43016262.4%
      Crawfordsville, IN16,4278712.7%
      Walnut Park, CA16,42614444.4%
      Albemarle, NC16,433918.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.