Cost of Living in Chapel Hill, NC
| Cost of Living in Chapel Hill, NC | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 43% higher | 23% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 6% lower | 8% lower |
| Food | 1% higher | 0% |
| Healthcare | 1% lower | 5% higher |
| Transportation | 1% lower | 6% lower |
| Goods & Services | 2% lower | 2% lower |
The cost of living in Chapel Hill, NC is 10% higher than the state average and 5% higher than the national average. Chapel Hill, NC housing is 23% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 8% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 0% in Chapel Hill, NC than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 2% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 5% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 2% cheaper in Chapel Hill, NC.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Chapel Hill is $1,909, while home prices circle around $637,404.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Chapel Hill, energy bills cost around $173.12 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.62 in Chapel Hill, a dozen eggs go for around $3.97 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.01.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Chapel Hill, an optometry check-up costs around $146.59, while a dentist appointment is priced $117.64 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.21 in Chapel Hill, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $53.41.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $29.19 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $34.39.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Chapel Hill, you should budget around $13.73 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $18.04, while dry cleaning costs about $18.66.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Chapel Hill, the median household income is $85,940.