A+
15%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
38%
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 Lexington North Carolina National
Cost of living8594100
Goods & Services9798100
Groceries9598100
Health care118108100
Housing6285100
Transportation7892100
Utilities9694100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Lexington, NC

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Lexington? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Lexington stands at 85, making it 15% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

Is Lexington Affordable?

Is Lexington affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Lexington, for instance, where the median home price falls 43.4% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 25.2% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Lexington flaunting a median household income of $30,366, 45.1% lower than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Lexington?

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Lexington, healthcare costs are 18.4% higher than the national average.

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Lexington, the transportation index is 21.8% lower than the national average.

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Lexington, the housing index comes in at 37.9% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Lexington cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Lexington is 9% lower than the North Carolina average
  • The cost of living in Lexington is 15% lower than the national average
  • Lexington housing is 38% 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 Lexington

See all the best places to live around Lexington

Compare Lexington, 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$50,575$4,215$1,180$1,517
      Renters$25,840$2,153$603$775
      The affordability of the housing market in Lexington, NC as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Lexington homeowners, the median income is $50,575. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,180 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $25,840. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $603 for their rent related monthly costs.

      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 Lexington National avg. Difference
      Haircut $13.43$24.2644.6%
      Beauty Salon $27.71$45.5639.2%
      Toothpaste $3.63$3.701.9%
      Shampoo $1.27$1.280.6%
      Movie $6.22$12.1348.7%
      Bowling $24.08$18.0033.8%

      Groceries

      Item Lexington National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.74$5.841.6%
      Fried Chicken $1.39$1.5711.7%
      Milk $4.55$4.672.6%
      Potatoes $5.21$4.935.5%
      Pizza $13.12$12.098.5%
      Beer $10.20$10.412.1%

      Health Care

      Item Lexington National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $183.44$125.6846.0%
      Doctor $194.39$135.7843.2%
      Dentist $137.94$113.2921.8%
      Ibuprofen $10.44$10.652.0%
      Lipitor $348.71$468.6025.6%

      Housing

      Item Lexington National avg. Difference
      Home Price $104,600.00$184,700.0043.4%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,522.05$2,346.6935.1%
      Apartment Rent $710.00$949.0025.2%

      Transportation

      Item Lexington National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.44$3.460.5%
      Tire Balancing $15.83$59.9273.6%

      Utilities

      Item Lexington National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $183.26$193.995.5%
      Phone $186.67$192.252.9%
      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.
      East Spencer, NC1,3828019.7%
      Denton, NC1,3558416.2%
      Thomasville, NC26,8348713.4%
      Southmont, NC1,1658713.1%
      Welcome, NC3,0508812.4%
      Lexington, NC18,9708514.9%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Stevenson Ranch, CA18,98019291.8%
      Cimarron Hills, CO18,98111211.6%
      Altamont, OR18,982991.3%
      Ronkonkoma, NY18,95313636.2%
      Wallingford Center, CT18,94811514.7%
      Lexington, NC18,9708514.9%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.