| Index | Chapel Hill | North Carolina | National |
| Cost of living | 133 | 96 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 210 | 88 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 107 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 102 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 111 | 100 | 100 |
The cost of living in Chapel Hill affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Chapel Hill is 133, which is 33% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
The cost of living in Chapel Hill is among the highest in the country, making it a very expensive place to live. Only a small fraction of regions boast a cost of living that is at least 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Chapel Hill falls into this category, which may not be suitable for those seeking an economically favorable living environment.
Housing costs are a major factor in the Chapel Hill cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 110.3% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 18 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Chapel Hill. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 72% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 28% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
Wondering if Chapel Hill is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Chapel Hill, for example, the median home price is 144.6% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 30.1% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Chapel Hill boasting a median household income of $112,596, which is 38.4% higher than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Chapel Hill, the groceries index is 2% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, 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. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.
Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Chapel Hill, healthcare costs are 3.6% lower than the national average.
The Chapel Hill cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
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| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $218,536 | $18,211 | $5,099 | $6,557 |
| Renters | $57,519 | $4,793 | $1,342 | $1,726 |
| 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. |
| Efland, NC | 823 | 94 | 6.0% |
| Gorman, NC | 1,016 | 99 | 1.2% |
| Mebane, NC | 16,152 | 101 | 1.1% |
| Durham, NC | 285,434 | 109 | 9.4% |
| Woodlawn, NC | 870 | 111 | 10.9% |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 64,145 | 133 | 33.2% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| North Miami, FL | 64,069 | 110 | 10.4% |
| Hamilton, OH | 64,032 | 88 | 12.1% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 64,338 | 112 | 12.1% |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 64,374 | 99 | 0.8% |
| Pico Rivera, CA | 63,899 | 148 | 47.8% |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 64,145 | 133 | 33.2% |
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