| Index | Burlington | North Carolina | National |
| Cost of living | 92 | 96 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 79 | 88 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 98 | 100 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Burlington allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Burlington stands at 92, marking it 8% lower than the national average.
In Burlington, daily expenses such as food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Burlington will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 15 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Burlington and this is how they responded. 27% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 73% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Burlington 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 Burlington, the median home price is 23.1% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 15.4% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Burlington come in at $67,164, which is 17.4% lower than the national average.
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 Burlington, the healthcare costs are 1% higher than the national average.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Burlington, the transportation index is 4.3% lower than the national average.
Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Burlington, the utilities index registers at 0.8% higher than the national average.
The Burlington cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
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| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
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| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $83,459 | $6,955 | $1,947 | $2,504 |
| Renters | $53,468 | $4,456 | $1,248 | $1,604 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| North Carolina | 4.75% | 7.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| North Carolina | 4.75% | 4.75% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Altamahaw, NC | 383 | 82 | 18.1% |
| Haw River, NC | 2,554 | 85 | 14.8% |
| Ossipee, NC | 524 | 86 | 13.8% |
| Green Level, NC | 2,613 | 86 | 13.6% |
| Saxapahaw, NC | 1,390 | 90 | 10.0% |
| Burlington, NC | 56,679 | 92 | 7.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Chicopee, MA | 56,658 | 111 | 11.4% |
| Berwyn, IL | 56,642 | 106 | 6.5% |
| Cathedral City, CA | 56,625 | 128 | 28.5% |
| Highland, CA | 56,606 | 131 | 31.3% |
| Hacienda Heights, CA | 56,603 | 172 | 71.7% |
| Burlington, NC | 56,679 | 92 | 7.5% |
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