Median rent is 10% lower in Concord ($1,451/mo vs $1,612/mo). Buying is cheaper in Concord, where the median home runs $353,700 versus $385,700. Households earn more in Concord ($86,921 vs $82,068 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (97.3).
City A
Charlotte, NC
City B
Concord, NC
How much would you need to earn in Concord, NC to maintain your standard of living from Charlotte, NC?
Equivalent salary in Concord, NC
$75,000
Costs are about the same in both cities.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Charlotte
North Carolina
Concord
North Carolina
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Concord at $1,451/mo compared to $1,612/mo in Charlotte (10% gap). Median home values are within 8% of each other: $385,700 in Charlotte and $353,700 in Concord.
Metric
Charlotte
Concord
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Charlotte
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Concord
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Charlotte (avg AQI 55.0) but not yet for Concord.
Pick Concord if you prioritize higher median household income ($86,921/yr).
Charlotte is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 97.3 versus 97.3 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Charlotte.
Median rent is $1,612/mo in Charlotte, NC and $1,451/mo in Concord, NC. Concord, NC has the lower rent by about 10%.
Median household income is $82,068 in Charlotte, NC and $86,921 in Concord, NC. Concord, NC has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Charlotte, NC is equivalent to roughly $100,000 in Concord, NC (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
