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 | 22% higher |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 9% lower | 11% lower |
| Food | 2% higher | 2% higher |
| Healthcare | 1% lower | 6% higher |
| Transportation | 1% lower | 7% lower |
| Goods & Services | 6% lower | 7% lower |
The cost of living in Chapel Hill, NC is 9% higher than the state average and 3% higher than the national average. Chapel Hill, NC housing is 22% more expensive than the U.S average, while utilities are about 11% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 7% less in Chapel Hill, NC than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 7% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 6% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 7% 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 $1,417, while home prices circle around $597,091.
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 $153.61 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 $2.61 in Chapel Hill, a dozen eggs go for around $2.80 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.19.
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 $135.65, while a dentist appointment is priced $114.09 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.60 in Chapel Hill, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $49.80.
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 $22.91 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $29.96.
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 $12.96 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $17.63, while dry cleaning costs about $14.28.
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.