C+
11%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
45%
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 Southern Pines North Carolina National
Cost of living11194100
Goods & Services9698100
Groceries10098100
Health care104108100
Housing14585100
Transportation9392100
Utilities9194100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Southern Pines, NC

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Southern Pines is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Southern Pines is 111, which is 11% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Southern Pines, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 45.4% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.

Is Southern Pines Affordable?

Is Southern Pines an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Southern Pines is 64.3% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 1.3% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Southern Pines has a median household income of $70,549, which is 27.5% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Southern Pines?

Urbanization: Larger, urban hubs brimming with ample amenities and robust employment opportunities often showcase a heightened cost of living. This surge is primarily attributed to the amplified demand for services and increased residential migration, culminating in elevated home prices and elevated rental rates. Conversely, less densely populated rural locales or regions characterized by reduced demand tend to offer a more limited array of amenities and undergo slower job market growth, ultimately yielding a more affordable cost of living.

Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as 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 farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.

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 Southern Pines, the utilities index stands at 8.6% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Southern Pines 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 Southern Pines is 19% higher than the North Carolina average
  • The cost of living in Southern Pines is 11% higher than the national average
  • Southern Pines housing is 45% 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 Southern Pines

See all the best places to live around Southern Pines

Compare Southern Pines, 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$85,547$7,129$1,996$2,567
      Renters$36,221$3,018$845$1,087
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Southern Pines, NC, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Southern Pines, homeowners have a median income of $85,547. Using that number, a maximum of $1,996 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $36,221, which means there is a maximum of $845 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      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 Southern Pines National avg. Difference
      Haircut $28.20$24.2616.2%
      Beauty Salon $50.33$45.5610.5%
      Toothpaste $3.85$3.703.9%
      Shampoo $1.33$1.284.1%
      Movie $12.19$12.130.4%
      Bowling $20.00$18.0011.1%

      Groceries

      Item Southern Pines National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.28$5.847.6%
      Fried Chicken $1.36$1.5713.2%
      Milk $4.64$4.670.7%
      Potatoes $4.99$4.931.1%
      Pizza $10.73$12.0911.3%
      Beer $10.46$10.410.4%

      Health Care

      Item Southern Pines National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $126.46$125.680.6%
      Doctor $146.71$135.788.1%
      Dentist $136.77$113.2920.7%
      Ibuprofen $10.94$10.652.7%
      Lipitor $385.26$468.6017.8%

      Housing

      Item Southern Pines National avg. Difference
      Home Price $303,500.00$184,700.0064.3%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,475.99$2,346.695.5%
      Apartment Rent $961.00$949.001.3%

      Transportation

      Item Southern Pines National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.32$3.464.1%
      Tire Balancing $42.85$59.9228.5%

      Utilities

      Item Southern Pines National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $161.71$193.9916.6%
      Phone $186.82$192.252.8%
      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.
      Hoffman, NC7788119.2%
      Ashley Heights, NC3268713.5%
      Silver City, NC1,0928911.5%
      Cameron, NC4768811.8%
      Raeford, NC4,9439010.0%
      Southern Pines, NC14,34711111.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Ozark, AL14,3508911.4%
      Lavaltrie, QC14,339n/a 
      Johnstown, CO14,35712525.4%
      Fort Campbell North, KY14,3631066.2%
      Johnson City, NY14,3298812.4%
      Southern Pines, NC14,34711111.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.