Charlotte, North Carolina has an overall cost of living index of 97.3, which is 2.7 points below the US average of 100 — making it about average versus most American cities. Renters pay a median of $1,612 per month, while the typical home is valued around $385,700. Households earn a median of $82,068 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is moderate, with an average AQI of 55. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$82,068
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,612
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$385,700
Median Home Value
Census ACS
97.3
Cost of Living Index
1BR Fair Market Rent
N/A
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
N/A
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
N/A
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
97.3
Goods
96.7
Rents / Housing
97.1
Services
84.8
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $133,750 |
| Registered Nurse | $89,150 |
| Elementary Teacher | $55,660 |
| Electrician | $57,300 |
| Accountant | $98,030 |
| Plumber | $56,310 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $312,130 |
| Civil Engineer | $103,430 |
| Operations Manager | $138,460 |
| Market Research Analyst | $88,320 |
| Health Services Manager | $123,540 |
| Truck Driver | $56,440 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | $117,480 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
903,844
Latest estimate
Median Age
34.5 yrs
Census ACS
55.0
Moderate0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
33
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,452
Per month
Avg Home Value
$394,118
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 28078 | — | $1,607 | $397,800 |
| ZIP 28104 | — | $1,652 | $438,400 |
| ZIP 28105 | — | $1,474 | $354,400 |
| ZIP 28134 | — | $1,535 | $292,100 |
| ZIP 28202 | — | $1,765 | $392,300 |
| ZIP 28203 | — | $1,756 | $736,900 |
| ZIP 28204 | — | $1,559 | $496,700 |
| ZIP 28205 | — | $1,280 | $375,200 |
| ZIP 28206 | — | $1,127 | $199,700 |
| ZIP 28207 | — | $1,455 | $1,339,800 |
Showing top 10 of 33 tracked neighborhoods.
January Avg
42°F
July Avg
80°F
Sunny Days / Year
—
Annual Snowfall
—
Climate category: Temperate · Source: NOAA/NCEI 30-year normals.
Healthcare Score
30.5
poor
Hospitals
6
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
87.2%
Charlotte has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 97.3. The US national average is 100, so Charlotte is 2.7 points below the national average.
The median gross rent in Charlotte is $1,612 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Charlotte is $82,068 per year.
The median home value in Charlotte is $385,700 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Charlotte has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 55.0, which is rated "Moderate" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for North Carolina is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
