Median rent is 2% lower in Charlotte ($1,612/mo vs $1,641/mo). Buying is cheaper in Garland, where the median home runs $270,800 versus $385,700. Households earn more in Charlotte ($82,068 vs $76,320 a year).
City A
Charlotte, NC
City B
Garland, TX
How much would you need to earn in Garland, TX to maintain your standard of living from Charlotte, NC?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
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
Garland
Texas
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 rents are similar in both cities: $1,612/mo in Charlotte and $1,641/mo in Garland. Home buyers face a steeper market in Charlotte: the median home is $385,700 versus $270,800 in Garland — 30% more expensive.
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
Garland
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Both cities have similar air quality: Charlotte averages 55.0 AQI (Moderate) and Garland averages 55.0 AQI (Moderate).
Pick Charlotte if you prioritize higher median household income ($82,068/yr).
Is Charlotte cheaper than Garland?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Charlotte vs Garland?
Median rent is $1,612/mo in Charlotte, NC and $1,641/mo in Garland, TX. Charlotte, NC has the lower rent by about 2%.
Which has higher salaries — Charlotte or Garland?
Median household income is $82,068 in Charlotte, NC and $76,320 in Garland, TX. Charlotte, NC has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Garland, TX has better air quality on average: 55.0 AQI versus 55.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Charlotte or Garland?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Garland to match my Charlotte income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
