A+
12%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
39%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; 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 Laurinburg North Carolina National
Cost of living8894100
Goods & Services10398100
Groceries10098100
Health care111108100
Housing6185100
Transportation9492100
Utilities8994100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Laurinburg, NC

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Laurinburg? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Laurinburg stands at 88, making it 12% 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.

Is Laurinburg Affordable?

Is Laurinburg an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Laurinburg, the median home price is 43.1% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 29% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Laurinburg come in at $29,787, which is 46.2% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Laurinburg?

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 Laurinburg starts at 4.75% and the income tax rates start at 4.99%.

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Laurinburg, the housing index is 38.9% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Laurinburg, the groceries index is 0.3% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Laurinburg 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Laurinburg is 6% lower than the North Carolina average
  • The cost of living in Laurinburg is 12% lower than the national average
  • Laurinburg housing is 39% lower than the national average
  • North Carolina general sales tax is 7% lower than the national average
  • North Carolina state income tax is 121% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Laurinburg

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Compare Laurinburg, NC Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      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$54,000$4,500$1,260$1,620
      Renters$19,197$1,600$448$576
      The affordability of the housing market in Laurinburg, NC as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Laurinburg homeowners, the median income is $54,000. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,260 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $19,197. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $448 for their rent related monthly 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 4.99% 4.99%

      Goods & Services

      Item Laurinburg National avg. Difference
      Haircut $18.25$24.2624.8%
      Beauty Salon $59.75$45.5631.1%
      Toothpaste $3.81$3.702.8%
      Shampoo $1.27$1.280.7%
      Movie $13.55$12.1311.7%
      Bowling $21.67$18.0020.4%

      Groceries

      Item Laurinburg National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.27$5.847.3%
      Fried Chicken $1.39$1.5711.5%
      Milk $4.61$4.671.2%
      Potatoes $4.98$4.931.0%
      Pizza $10.96$12.099.3%
      Beer $10.47$10.410.5%

      Health Care

      Item Laurinburg National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $143.74$125.6814.4%
      Doctor $148.29$135.789.2%
      Dentist $115.52$113.292.0%
      Ibuprofen $10.77$10.651.1%
      Lipitor $467.34$468.600.3%

      Housing

      Item Laurinburg National avg. Difference
      Home Price $105,100.00$184,700.0043.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $3,159.30$2,346.6934.6%
      Apartment Rent $674.00$949.0029.0%

      Transportation

      Item Laurinburg National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.29$3.464.9%
      Tire Balancing $53.32$59.9211.0%

      Utilities

      Item Laurinburg National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $167.89$193.9913.5%
      Phone $189.90$192.251.2%
      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.
      Wakulla, NC111991.4%
      Dobbins Heights, NC8367920.6%
      East Laurinburg, NC3457822.0%
      McColl, SC1,6828019.6%
      Elrod, NC5228119.0%
      Laurinburg, NC15,1188812.1%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Hollins, VA15,113982.1%
      Glenmont, MD15,11113939.0%
      Groveland, FL15,1091098.6%
      Henderson, NC15,1278416.3%
      Mineral Wells, TX15,130937.1%
      Laurinburg, NC15,1188812.1%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.