A+
12%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
38%
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 Lumberton North Carolina National
Cost of living8894100
Goods & Services9998100
Groceries9898100
Health care112108100
Housing6285100
Transportation9392100
Utilities9894100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Lumberton, NC

Understanding the cost of living in Lumberton 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 Lumberton cost of living index is 88, which is 12% lower 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.

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

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 5 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Lumberton. The feedback revealed that 60% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 40% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Lumberton Affordable?

Is Lumberton 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 Lumberton, the median home price is 41.9% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 29.9% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Lumberton come in at $36,846, which is 33.4% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Lumberton?

Housing: A sought-after location with high housing demand often leads to increased property values and rental rates, which can significantly inflate the overall cost of living. Conversely, areas with low housing demand, particularly in less desirable locales, tend to experience the opposite effect, causing prices to drop and contributing to a more affordable cost of living. In Lumberton, the housing index stands at 38.3% lower 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 Lumberton, the groceries index is 1.6% lower than the national average.

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Lumberton, the transportation index is 6.9% 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. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Lumberton is 7% lower than the North Carolina average
  • The cost of living in Lumberton is 12% 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

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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$56,896$4,741$1,327$1,707
      Renters$24,633$2,053$575$739
      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 $56,896 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $1,327 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $24,633, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $575 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 $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 Lumberton 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 Lumberton 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 Lumberton National avg. Difference
      Home Price $107,300.00$184,700.0041.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,813.02$2,346.6922.7%
      Apartment Rent $665.00$949.0029.9%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Lumberton 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.
      Wakulla, NC111991.4%
      Raynham, NC41991.4%
      Proctorville, NC1977623.8%
      Butters, NC1537723.0%
      Rennert, NC4007822.0%
      Lumberton, NC20,7048812.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Sidney, OH20,698945.6%
      Murphy, TX20,71114140.6%
      Palisades Park, NJ20,69316464.3%
      Park Forest, IL20,715918.8%
      Universal City, TX20,691972.9%
      Lumberton, NC20,7048812.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.