A+
13%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
38%
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 Lumberton North Carolina National
Cost of living8796100
Goods & Services98101100
Groceries101100100
Health care116110100
Housing6288100
Transportation8994100
Utilities8994100
Does this Area Fit Your Budget? Local Insights Report
  • Know the community before you call it home
  • Compare multiple areas side by side
  • Access over 300 data points for any address
Local Insights Report

An Overview of Cost of Living in Lumberton, NC

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Lumberton? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Lumberton stands at 87, making it 13% 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.

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

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 5 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Lumberton. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 60% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 40% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Lumberton Affordable?

Wondering if Lumberton 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 Lumberton, for example, the median home price is 40.8% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 31.7% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Lumberton boasting a median household income of $55,898, which is 31.3% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Lumberton?

Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In Lumberton, the groceries index is 0.6% higher than the national average.

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 Lumberton, healthcare costs are 16.2% higher than the national average.

Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Lumberton, the utilities index stands at 10.7% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Lumberton 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.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Lumberton is 10% lower than the North Carolina average
  • The cost of living in Lumberton is 13% lower than the national average
  • Lumberton housing is 38% 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 Lumberton

See all the best places to live around Lumberton

Compare Lumberton, NC Cost of Living

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.

      Local Insights Report
      How would you rate the cost of living in Lumberton?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Lumberton?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Lumberton poll results

      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$83,828$6,986$1,956$2,515
      Renters$37,282$3,107$870$1,119
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Lumberton, 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 Lumberton, the median monthly income is $83,828 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $1,956 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $37,282, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $870 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 4.75% 4.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Lumberton National avg. Difference
      Haircut $30.19$27.629.3%
      Beauty Salon $55.76$51.119.1%
      Toothpaste $4.02$4.091.8%
      Shampoo $1.72$1.5411.5%
      Movie $14.42$12.8812.0%
      Yoga $23.33$19.6618.7%

      Groceries

      Item Lumberton National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.67$7.700.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.56$1.666.2%
      Milk $4.68$4.731.1%
      Potatoes $5.56$5.265.8%
      Pizza $11.30$12.7611.5%
      Beer $10.48$10.550.7%

      Health Care

      Item Lumberton National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $112.25$140.0619.9%
      Doctor $146.67$153.824.6%
      Dentist $158.67$123.1528.8%
      Ibuprofen $12.16$11.733.6%
      Lipitor $29.82$23.6126.3%

      Housing

      Item Lumberton National avg. Difference
      Home Price $193,446.00$326,622.0040.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,135.84$2,480.2513.9%
      Apartment Rent $986.00$1,444.0031.7%

      Transportation

      Item Lumberton National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.90$3.065.2%
      Tire Balancing $48.20$65.2126.1%

      Utilities

      Item Lumberton National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $185.97$220.1215.5%
      Phone $190.84$195.712.5%
      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, NC114972.9%
      Raynham, NC43972.9%
      Proctorville, NC2057524.7%
      Butters, NC1597624.1%
      Rennert, NC4137723.2%
      Lumberton, NC21,4668713.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Ferguson, MO21,4458316.7%
      Varennes, QC21,490n/a 
      New Hope, MN21,4321065.5%
      Lorton, VA21,50514645.6%
      Stephenville, TX21,421972.6%
      Lumberton, NC21,4668713.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.