A+
11%
Overall NAT. AVG.
7%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
22%
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 Burlington North Carolina National
Cost of living8994100
Goods & Services9398100
Groceries9598100
Health care105108100
Housing7885100
Transportation9492100
Utilities8994100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Burlington, NC

Understanding the cost of living in Burlington can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Burlington cost of living index is 89, which is 11% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Burlington?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 15 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Burlington. The feedback revealed that 27% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 73% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Burlington Affordable?

Is Burlington 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 Burlington is 25.8% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 13.3% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Burlington has a median household income of $45,587, which is 17.6% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Burlington?

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Burlington, the healthcare costs are 5% higher than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Burlington, the groceries index registers 4.8% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including 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 farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Burlington 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 Burlington is 5% lower than the North Carolina average
  • The cost of living in Burlington is 11% lower than the national average
  • Burlington housing is 22% lower than the national average
  • North Carolina general sales tax is 7% lower than the national average
  • North Carolina state income tax is 83% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Burlington

See all the best places to live around Burlington

Compare Burlington, 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$56,255$4,688$1,313$1,688
      Renters$35,269$2,939$823$1,058
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Burlington, NC, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Burlington, the median monthly income is $56,255 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $1,313 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $35,269, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $823 on monthly rental expenses.

      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 4.75% 4.75%

      Goods & Services

      Item Burlington National avg. Difference
      Haircut $28.33$24.2616.8%
      Beauty Salon $37.66$45.5617.3%
      Toothpaste $3.67$3.700.8%
      Shampoo $1.24$1.283.4%
      Movie $12.00$12.131.1%
      Bowling $18.67$18.003.7%

      Groceries

      Item Burlington National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.17$5.845.7%
      Fried Chicken $1.42$1.579.9%
      Milk $4.49$4.673.8%
      Potatoes $5.00$4.931.3%
      Pizza $10.41$12.0913.9%
      Beer $10.25$10.411.6%

      Health Care

      Item Burlington National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $146.78$125.6816.8%
      Doctor $174.00$135.7828.1%
      Dentist $97.67$113.2913.8%
      Ibuprofen $10.31$10.653.2%
      Lipitor $495.98$468.605.8%

      Housing

      Item Burlington National avg. Difference
      Home Price $137,000.00$184,700.0025.8%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,041.67$2,346.6913.0%
      Apartment Rent $823.00$949.0013.3%

      Transportation

      Item Burlington National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.31$3.464.2%
      Tire Balancing $54.55$59.929.0%

      Utilities

      Item Burlington 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.
      Altamahaw, NC3697921.4%
      Haw River, NC2,4778218.2%
      Ossipee, NC5088317.0%
      Green Level, NC2,5418317.0%
      Saxapahaw, NC1,3408713.4%
      Burlington, NC54,5348911.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Anderson, IN54,4768515.0%
      Westchester, FL54,47012625.5%
      Albany, OR54,44211010.0%
      West Haven, CT54,66611010.1%
      Normal, IL54,699991.0%
      Burlington, NC54,5348911.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.