C
16%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
57%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
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 Wake Forest North Carolina National
Cost of living11694100
Goods & Services9998100
Groceries9898100
Health care112108100
Housing15785100
Transportation9392100
Utilities9894100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Wake Forest, NC

Knowing the cost of living in Wake Forest allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Wake Forest stands at 116, marking it 16% higher than the national average.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Wake Forest cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 56.7% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Wake Forest?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 23 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Wake Forest. The feedback revealed that 70% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 30% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Wake Forest Affordable?

Is Wake Forest affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Wake Forest, the median home price is 70.1% higher than the national average and monthly rent prices are 25.4% higher than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Wake Forest boasting a median household income of $100,162, 81.1% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Wake Forest?

Housing: When there's a high demand for housing in trendy places, it can cause property prices and rental rates to soar, leading to a significantly higher cost of living. Conversely, in less desirable locations, where demand is low, prices tend to decrease, resulting in a more budget-friendly cost of living. In Wake Forest, the housing index is 56.7% higher than the national average.

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 Wake Forest, the healthcare costs are 11.5% higher 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 Wake Forest 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.

New Real Estate Listings in Wake Forest Area
Search Homes for Sale in Wake Forest, NC

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Wake Forest is 24% higher than the North Carolina average
  • The cost of living in Wake Forest is 16% higher than the national average
  • Wake Forest housing is 57% higher 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 Wake Forest

See all the best places to live around Wake Forest

Compare Wake Forest, NC Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in Wake Forest?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in Wake Forest?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all Wake Forest poll results

      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$115,908$9,659$2,704$3,478
      Renters$56,868$4,739$1,327$1,706
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Wake Forest, NC, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Wake Forest have a median income of $115,908. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $2,704 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $56,868, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $1,327.

      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 Wake Forest National avg. Difference
      Haircut $19.00$24.2621.7%
      Beauty Salon $29.58$45.5635.1%
      Toothpaste $3.65$3.701.4%
      Shampoo $1.09$1.2815.1%
      Movie $10.27$12.1315.3%
      Bowling $11.00$18.0038.9%

      Groceries

      Item Wake Forest National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.93$5.841.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.59$1.570.9%
      Milk $4.57$4.672.1%
      Potatoes $5.18$4.934.9%
      Pizza $10.47$12.0913.4%
      Beer $10.29$10.411.1%

      Health Care

      Item Wake Forest National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $141.56$125.6812.6%
      Doctor $136.38$135.780.4%
      Dentist $100.17$113.2911.6%
      Ibuprofen $10.24$10.653.9%
      Lipitor $429.52$468.608.3%

      Housing

      Item Wake Forest National avg. Difference
      Home Price $314,200.00$184,700.0070.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,813.02$2,346.6922.7%
      Apartment Rent $1,190.00$949.0025.4%

      Transportation

      Item Wake Forest National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.45$3.460.5%
      Tire Balancing $63.55$59.926.1%

      Utilities

      Item Wake Forest National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $201.14$193.993.7%
      Phone $187.32$192.252.6%
      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.
      Franklinton, NC2,3418811.8%
      Zebulon, NC5,712937.0%
      Butner, NC7,779955.1%
      Louisburg, NC3,694982.4%
      Creedmoor, NC4,539991.3%
      Wake Forest, NC44,06811616.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Burke, VA44,07716060.5%
      Rocky View County, AB44,056n/a 
      Ashburn, VA44,09015150.8%
      York, PA44,0199010.5%
      Bountiful, UT43,99112222.2%
      Wake Forest, NC44,06811616.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.