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Cost of Living · North Carolina

Greensboro Cost of Living

Greensboro, North Carolina costs approximately 8.0% below the US national average. Compare with 99 other major US cities.

0.92×
cost-of-living index (1.00 = US national average)
Greensboro ranks 3 of 4 cities in North Carolina by cost of living.
Cities MORE expensive than Greensboro (75)
San Francisco, CA
+57.6% more expensive
Oakland, CA
+46.7% more expensive
New York City, NY
+43.5% more expensive
Honolulu, HI
+41.3% more expensive
Irvine, CA
+41.3% more expensive
Los Angeles, CA
+32.6% more expensive
Boston, MA
+32.6% more expensive
San Diego, CA
+31.5% more expensive
Yonkers, NY
+30.4% more expensive
Anchorage, AK
+30.4% more expensive
Seattle, WA
+28.3% more expensive
Long Beach, CA
+28.3% more expensive
Anaheim, CA
+28.3% more expensive
Scottsdale, AZ
+28.3% more expensive
Chula Vista, CA
+25.0% more expensive
Miami, FL
+21.7% more expensive
Portland, OR
+19.6% more expensive
Newark, NJ
+19.6% more expensive
Sacramento, CA
+19.6% more expensive
Riverside, CA
+19.6% more expensive
Denver, CO
+17.4% more expensive
Chicago, IL
+14.1% more expensive
Austin, TX
+14.1% more expensive
Baltimore, MD
+14.1% more expensive
Stockton, CA
+14.1% more expensive
Aurora, CO
+14.1% more expensive
Hialeah, FL
+14.1% more expensive
Frisco, TX
+14.1% more expensive
Las Vegas, NV
+13.0% more expensive
Minneapolis, MN
+13.0% more expensive
Plano, TX
+13.0% more expensive
Chandler, AZ
+13.0% more expensive
Phoenix, AZ
+10.9% more expensive
Philadelphia, PA
+10.9% more expensive
Atlanta, GA
+10.9% more expensive
Tampa, FL
+10.9% more expensive
Henderson, NV
+10.9% more expensive
Reno, NV
+10.9% more expensive
Gilbert, AZ
+10.9% more expensive
Charleston, SC
+10.9% more expensive
Salt Lake City, UT
+10.9% more expensive
Orlando, FL
+9.8% more expensive
Wilmington, DE
+8.7% more expensive
Raleigh, NC
+8.7% more expensive
Virginia Beach, VA
+8.7% more expensive
St. Paul, MN
+8.7% more expensive
Chesapeake, VA
+8.7% more expensive
North Las Vegas, NV
+8.7% more expensive
Boise, ID
+8.7% more expensive
Fresno, CA
+8.7% more expensive
Worcester, MA
+8.7% more expensive
Dallas, TX
+7.6% more expensive
Nashville, TN
+7.6% more expensive
Colorado Springs, CO
+7.6% more expensive
Bakersfield, CA
+7.6% more expensive
St. Petersburg, FL
+7.6% more expensive
Madison, WI
+7.6% more expensive
Norfolk, VA
+6.5% more expensive
Jacksonville, FL
+5.4% more expensive
Charlotte, NC
+5.4% more expensive
Mesa, AZ
+5.4% more expensive
Houston, TX
+4.3% more expensive
Fort Worth, TX
+4.3% more expensive
Tucson, AZ
+4.3% more expensive
Glendale, AZ
+4.3% more expensive
Garland, TX
+4.3% more expensive
Spokane, WA
+4.3% more expensive
Pittsburgh, PA
+3.3% more expensive
Arlington, TX
+3.3% more expensive
Tallahassee, FL
+3.3% more expensive
Milwaukee, WI
+2.2% more expensive
Albuquerque, NM
+2.2% more expensive
New Orleans, LA
+2.2% more expensive
San Antonio, TX
+1.1% more expensive
Grand Rapids, MI
+1.1% more expensive
Cities CHEAPER than Greensboro (16)
El Paso, TX
−1.1% cheaper
Cleveland, OH
−1.1% cheaper
St. Louis, MO
−1.1% cheaper
Winston-Salem, NC
−1.1% cheaper
Indianapolis, IN
−2.2% cheaper
Louisville, KY
−2.2% cheaper
Omaha, NE
−2.2% cheaper
Memphis, TN
−3.3% cheaper
Oklahoma City, OK
−3.3% cheaper
Lincoln, NE
−3.3% cheaper
Birmingham, AL
−4.3% cheaper
Toledo, OH
−4.3% cheaper
Lubbock, TX
−4.3% cheaper
Wichita, KS
−6.5% cheaper
Fort Wayne, IN
−6.5% cheaper
Mobile, AL
−6.5% cheaper

What living in Greensboro costs

Greensboro carries a cost index of 0.92x the national baseline, placing it above 16 of the 99 metros tracked and below 75. Rent runs about $1,050 monthly; the median home is near $275,000.

The price-to-rent ratio here is roughly 22, which is high. Above about 20, renting and investing the down payment usually beats buying over a normal holding period — the purchase price is steep relative to what the same property earns as a rental.

Working and living here

Greensboro is a metro of roughly 0.8M and growing steadily, running on logistics/aviation, manufacturing, healthcare. Larger employers include Cone Health, Honda Aircraft Company, Volvo Trucks North America.

North Carolina taxes income at the state level, and Greensboro adds no separate city tax. Cost-of-living indexes exclude income tax entirely, so compare after-tax figures rather than index ratios when weighing this metro against one in a no-income-tax state.

Getting around: Greensboro is effectively car-dependent. Budget for a car — around $9,000 a year all-in once insurance, fuel, maintenance and parking are counted, a cost the index assumes but does not itemise.

Climate: January highs near 51°F/lows near 30°F; July highs near 89°F/lows near 68°F, humid.

Piedmont Triad International Airport's large cargo hub (FedEx, Honda Aircraft) anchors a logistics-heavy economy; NC has a flat 4.5% state income tax, no city add-on.

Related tools

Paycheck calculator — take-home after federal, state and local tax. Salary calculator — pay by job and state. Compare against another metro.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Greensboro expensive to live in?▾
Relative to the US average, no — the cost index is 0.92x, above 16 and below 75 of the 99 other metros tracked here. A one-bedroom averages $1,050 a month and the median home $275,000.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Greensboro?▾
A common rule keeps rent under 30% of gross income, which at $1,050 a month implies about $42,000 a year for a one-bedroom. That is a floor rather than a comfortable figure — it leaves nothing for savings or the car this metro effectively requires.