Cost of living in Charlotte

In Charlotte, United States, living costs about $2615 per month for one person and $6031 for a family of four, including rent.

How expensive is Charlotte compared to other cities?

Compared to the European benchmark, Charlotte is 83% more expensive overall.

How does Charlotte compare to your city?

Charlotte is 45% more expensive than Columbus, without rent.

Rent in Charlotte is, on average, 20% higher than in Columbus.

What drives the cost of living in Charlotte?

Who is Charlotte a good fit for?

Charlotte tends to fit higher-income residents who can comfortably absorb housing costs. It can be challenging on a moderate budget, mainly due to rent and utilities.

FAQ

Why is Charlotte so expensive?

The high cost of living in Charlotte is primarily driven by rent and utilities, which significantly impact overall expenses.

Is food expensive in Charlotte?

Yes, food costs are 33% higher than the European benchmark, making dining and grocery shopping more costly.

Is public transport affordable in Charlotte?

No, public transport is 133% higher than the European benchmark, which can strain budgets for commuters.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
2615 $
Without Rent
984 $
Rent & Utilities
1631 $
Food
632 $
Transport
174 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
4594 $
GDP per Capita
81,695 $
Freedom Index
8.39
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
96%
Population
875.0K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 17.4 $
Dinner 75.4 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 9.95 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 5.93 $
Capuccino 5.04 $
Coke, 330ml 2.43 $

Compare Charlotte with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.04 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 3.18 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.63 $
Eggs, 12 pack 4.04 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.8 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.7 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 19.2 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 6.17 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.78 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 6.04 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.59 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 3.59 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 3.21 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.23 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.87 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 15.1 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 2.23 $
Cigarette pack 8.26 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 2.2 $
Monthly Pass 93.8 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 0.87 $
Taxi, 8 km 21.6 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 126 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 6.16 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 6.99 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 4.28 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 1.78 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 114 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 175 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 66.8 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 1,394 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 2,308 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,670 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 3,455 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 4,378 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 2,768 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 4,594 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.51%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 53.8 $
Cinema, 1 seat 14.6 $
Haircut 25.6 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 107 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 59.3 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 1,274 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 25,869 $

Compare Charlotte with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Charlotte vs George Town (George Town is 39% more expensive)
Bahamas
Charlotte vs Nassau (Nassau is 5% more expensive) Charlotte vs Freeport (Freeport is 16% less expensive)
Vanuatu
Charlotte vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 10% less expensive) Charlotte vs Luganville (Luganville is 17% more expensive)
United States
Charlotte vs New York City (New York City is 55% more expensive) Charlotte vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 22% more expensive) Charlotte vs Chicago (Chicago is 2% more expensive) Charlotte vs Houston (Houston is 14% less expensive) Charlotte vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 9% less expensive) Charlotte vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 3% less expensive) Charlotte vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 16% less expensive) Charlotte vs San Diego (San Diego is 28% more expensive) Charlotte vs Dallas (Dallas is 2% less expensive) Charlotte vs San Jose (San Jose is 40% more expensive)
Canada
Charlotte vs Toronto (Toronto is 2% less expensive) Charlotte vs Montreal (Montreal is 25% less expensive) Charlotte vs Calgary (Calgary is 18% less expensive) Charlotte vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 14% less expensive) Charlotte vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 32% less expensive) Charlotte vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 33% less expensive) Charlotte vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 5% less expensive) Charlotte vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 1% more expensive) Charlotte vs Brampton (Brampton is 19% less expensive) Charlotte vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 18% less expensive)
Barbados
Charlotte vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 48% less expensive) Charlotte vs Holetown (Holetown is 47% less expensive)
Panama
Charlotte vs Panama City (Panama City is 47% less expensive) Charlotte vs Colon (Colon is 55% less expensive) Charlotte vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 53% less expensive) Charlotte vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 60% less expensive) Charlotte vs David (David is 68% less expensive) Charlotte vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 64% less expensive) Charlotte vs Balboa (Balboa is 52% less expensive) Charlotte vs Pacora (Pacora is 52% less expensive) Charlotte vs Chitre (Chitre is 58% less expensive) Charlotte vs Penonome (Penonome is 58% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Charlotte vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 53% less expensive) Charlotte vs Cayon (Cayon is 53% less expensive)
Cuba
Charlotte vs Havana (Havana is 61% less expensive) Charlotte vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 46% less expensive) Charlotte vs Holguin (Holguin is 51% less expensive) Charlotte vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 42% less expensive) Charlotte vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 60% less expensive) Charlotte vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 55% less expensive) Charlotte vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 40% less expensive) Charlotte vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 40% less expensive) Charlotte vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 58% less expensive) Charlotte vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 66% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Charlotte vs San Jose (San Jose is 53% less expensive) Charlotte vs Limon (Limon is 54% less expensive) Charlotte vs Liberia (Liberia is 66% less expensive) Charlotte vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 53% less expensive) Charlotte vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 51% less expensive) Charlotte vs Cartago (Cartago is 63% less expensive) Charlotte vs Heredia (Heredia is 52% less expensive) Charlotte vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 35% less expensive) Charlotte vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 50% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Charlotte vs Castries (Castries is 56% less expensive) Charlotte vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 54% less expensive)
Jamaica
Charlotte vs Kingston (Kingston is 49% less expensive) Charlotte vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 70% less expensive) Charlotte vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 61% less expensive) Charlotte vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 55% less expensive) Charlotte vs May Pen (May Pen is 69% less expensive) Charlotte vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 63% less expensive) Charlotte vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 68% less expensive) Charlotte vs Linstead (Linstead is 60% less expensive) Charlotte vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 57% less expensive) Charlotte vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 56% less expensive)
El Salvador
Charlotte vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 54% less expensive) Charlotte vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 73% less expensive) Charlotte vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 55% less expensive) Charlotte vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 59% less expensive) Charlotte vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 56% less expensive) Charlotte vs Apopa (Apopa is 56% less expensive) Charlotte vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 54% less expensive) Charlotte vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 44% less expensive) Charlotte vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 58% less expensive) Charlotte vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 66% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Charlotte vs St. John's (St. John's is 59% less expensive) Charlotte vs All Saints (All Saints is 59% less expensive)
Grenada
Charlotte vs St. George's (St. George's is 59% less expensive) Charlotte vs Grenville (Grenville is 59% less expensive)
Dominica
Charlotte vs Roseau (Roseau is 62% less expensive) Charlotte vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 56% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Charlotte vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 62% less expensive) Charlotte vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 62% less expensive)
Belize
Charlotte vs Belize City (Belize City is 66% less expensive) Charlotte vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 58% less expensive) Charlotte vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 72% less expensive) Charlotte vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 49% less expensive) Charlotte vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 40% less expensive)
Guatemala
Charlotte vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 62% less expensive) Charlotte vs Mixco (Mixco is 76% less expensive) Charlotte vs Coban (Coban is 65% less expensive) Charlotte vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 70% less expensive) Charlotte vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 65% less expensive) Charlotte vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 66% less expensive) Charlotte vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 67% less expensive) Charlotte vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 67% less expensive) Charlotte vs Flores (Flores is 67% less expensive) Charlotte vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 70% less expensive)
Honduras
Charlotte vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 68% less expensive) Charlotte vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 60% less expensive) Charlotte vs Choloma (Choloma is 77% less expensive) Charlotte vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 75% less expensive) Charlotte vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 66% less expensive) Charlotte vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 67% less expensive) Charlotte vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 73% less expensive) Charlotte vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 72% less expensive) Charlotte vs Yoro (Yoro is 72% less expensive) Charlotte vs La Lima (La Lima is 67% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Charlotte vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 70% less expensive) Charlotte vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 60% less expensive) Charlotte vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 71% less expensive) Charlotte vs Higuey (Higuey is 71% less expensive) Charlotte vs La Vega (La Vega is 78% less expensive) Charlotte vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 68% less expensive) Charlotte vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 72% less expensive) Charlotte vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 80% less expensive) Charlotte vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 76% less expensive) Charlotte vs Bonao (Bonao is 79% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Charlotte vs Managua (Managua is 70% less expensive) Charlotte vs Leon (Leon is 76% less expensive) Charlotte vs Masaya (Masaya is 73% less expensive) Charlotte vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 79% less expensive) Charlotte vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 76% less expensive) Charlotte vs Esteli (Esteli is 77% less expensive) Charlotte vs Granada (Granada is 73% less expensive) Charlotte vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 83% less expensive) Charlotte vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 75% less expensive) Charlotte vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 66% less expensive)