Cost of living comparison

 Wisconsin, USA
compared to
 North Carolina, USA
North Carolina vs. Wisconsin Cost of Living Summary

North Carolina is 3.3% more expensive than Wisconsin.

Restaurants
pay 3.7% less in North Carolina
Groceries
pay 15.2% more in North Carolina
Transportation
pay 10.3% more in North Carolina
Housing
pay 14.5% more in North Carolina
Childcare
pay 11.1% less in North Carolina
Entertainment and Sports
pay 0.7% less in North Carolina
Clothing
pay 1.4% less in North Carolina

The cost of groceries, housing, and transportation in North Carolina are more expensive than in Wisconsin. Expenses including childcare, restaurants, clothing, and entertainment and sports are lower in North Carolina.

North Carolina vs. Wisconsin Cost Breakdown

If you lived in North Carolina instead of Wisconsin, you would:

pay 3.7% less for restaurants

 
Wisconsin
North Carolina
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $15.73
 
$16.06
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.10
 
$10.06
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.58
 
$2.31
 

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pay 15.2% more for groceries

 
Wisconsin
North Carolina
Bread
1 loaf
$3.33
 
$3.48
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.80
 
$6.25
 
Milk (1 gallon) $3.12
 
$3.46
 

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pay 10.3% more for transportation

 
Wisconsin
North Carolina
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.32
 
$3.19
 
Monthly public transit pass $48.83
 
$53.89
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $27,075.50
 
$34,400.31
 

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pay 14.5% more for housing

 
Wisconsin
North Carolina
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$66.87
 
$72.47
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,172.05
 
$1,527.81
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,035.25
 
$1,294.23
 

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pay 11.1% less for childcare

 
Wisconsin
North Carolina
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,476.60
 
$1,254.70
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $27,034.78
 
$25,128.75
 

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pay 0.7% less for entertainment and sports

 
Wisconsin
North Carolina
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $4.89
 
$5.09
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.09
 
$4.89
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$9.90
 
$7.33
 

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pay 1.4% less for clothing

 
Wisconsin
North Carolina
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$51.29
 
$49.88
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$40.15
 
$37.28
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$85.49
 
$86.65
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: February 2025
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