Cost of living comparison
North Carolina is 14.6% cheaper than California.
- Restaurants
-
pay 17.8% less in North Carolina
- Groceries
-
pay 7.4% less in North Carolina
- Transportation
-
pay 9.0% less in North Carolina
- Housing
-
pay 22.7% less in North Carolina
- Childcare
-
pay 22.0% less in North Carolina
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 18.9% less in North Carolina
- Clothing
-
pay 4.1% less in North Carolina
Expenses including housing, childcare, entertainment and sports, restaurants, transportation, and groceries are lower in North Carolina.
If you lived in North Carolina instead of California, you would:
pay 17.8% less for restaurants
|
California
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$21.02
|
$16.06
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.52
|
$10.06
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.71
|
$2.31
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.16
|
$1.72
|
|
pay 7.4% less for groceries
|
California
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.14
|
$3.48
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.95
|
$6.25
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.61
|
$3.46
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.33
|
$3.28
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.70
|
$4.77
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.34
|
$2.35
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.92
|
$0.74
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.91
|
$2.18
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.38
|
$2.16
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.39
|
$1.51
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.44
|
$1.66
|
|
pay 9.0% less for transportation
|
California
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.83
|
$3.19
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$62.05
|
$53.89
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,005.28
|
$34,400.31
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.07
|
$19.36
|
|
pay 22.7% less for housing
|
California
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$68.54
|
$72.47
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,371.29
|
$1,527.81
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$2,055.18
|
$1,294.23
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$171.68
|
$130.82
|
|
pay 22.0% less for childcare
|
California
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,682.51
|
$1,254.70
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$30,905.75
|
$25,128.75
|
|
pay 18.9% less for entertainment and sports
|
California
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$7.00
|
$5.09
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.34
|
$4.89
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$10.91
|
$7.33
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$66.35
|
$54.04
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.41
|
$13.35
|
|
pay 4.1% less for clothing
|
California
|
North Carolina
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$52.77
|
$49.88
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.15
|
$37.28
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.15
|
$86.65
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$117.31
|
$111.01
|
|
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