A+
5%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
20%
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 Garner North Carolina National
Cost of living10594100
Goods & Services9998100
Groceries9898100
Health care112108100
Housing12085100
Transportation9392100
Utilities9894100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Garner, NC

Understanding the cost of living in Garner can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Garner cost of living index is 105, which is 5% higher than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Garner are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Garner can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Garner?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 6 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Garner. The feedback revealed that 17% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 83% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Garner Affordable?

Is Garner 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 Garner, the median home price is 16.1% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 28.3% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Garner come in at $67,571, which is 22.1% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Garner?

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 Garner, healthcare costs are 11.5% higher than the national average.

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 Garner, the housing index is 19.8% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Garner 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 Garner is 12% higher than the North Carolina average
  • The cost of living in Garner is 5% higher than the national average
  • Garner housing is 20% higher 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 Garner

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Compare Garner, 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$90,263$7,522$2,106$2,708
      Renters$50,278$4,190$1,173$1,508
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Garner, NC, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Garner, the median monthly income is $90,263 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $2,106 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $50,278, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,173 on monthly rental expenses.

      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 Garner National avg. Difference
      Haircut $19.00$24.2621.7%
      Beauty Salon $29.58$45.5635.1%
      Toothpaste $3.65$3.701.4%
      Shampoo $1.09$1.2815.1%
      Movie $10.27$12.1315.3%
      Bowling $11.00$18.0038.9%

      Groceries

      Item Garner National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.93$5.841.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.59$1.570.9%
      Milk $4.57$4.672.1%
      Potatoes $5.18$4.934.9%
      Pizza $10.47$12.0913.4%
      Beer $10.29$10.411.1%

      Health Care

      Item Garner National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $141.56$125.6812.6%
      Doctor $136.38$135.780.4%
      Dentist $100.17$113.2911.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.24$10.653.9%
      Lipitor $429.52$468.608.3%

      Housing

      Item Garner National avg. Difference
      Home Price $214,400.00$184,700.0016.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,813.02$2,346.6922.7%
      Apartment Rent $1,218.00$949.0028.3%

      Transportation

      Item Garner National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.45$3.460.5%
      Tire Balancing $63.55$59.926.1%

      Utilities

      Item Garner National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $201.14$193.993.7%
      Phone $187.32$192.252.6%
      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.
      Angier, NC5,748954.7%
      Wilson's Mills, NC2,698963.7%
      Wendell, NC7,9621010.9%
      Archer Lodge, NC5,0371021.6%
      Clayton, NC23,1791021.9%
      Garner, NC30,3451054.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Poughkeepsie, NY30,34111312.6%
      North Tonawanda, NY30,3388811.9%
      Atwater, CA30,33611615.9%
      Milford Mill, MD30,35511110.9%
      Cibolo, TX30,33311010.2%
      Garner, NC30,3451054.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.