Cost of Living in
High Point, NC

The Real Price Tag: High Point, NC (2026)

Forget the glossy brochures and the "Best Place to Live" lists that look like they were written by a marketing intern on a caffeine bender. You want the actual numbers, the ones that hit your bank account month after month. The Cost of Living Index for High Point sits at 94.1, which tells you it's roughly 5.9% cheaper than the national average. That sounds great on paper, but it’s an average that hides a lot of sins. The median household income hovers around $57,436, which mathematically suggests a single earner needs to pull in about $31,589 just to exist. But "existing" and "living comfortably" are two entirely different beasts. To actually live here without feeling like you're holding your breath every time the gas pump clicks off, you need to understand that the $31,589 figure is the bare minimum to keep the lights on and the fridge half-full. It assumes zero debt, no car payments, and a lifestyle that involves a lot of instant ramen. For a genuine middle-class life—saving for retirement, owning a car that isn't a rolling hazard, and going out more than twice a month—you need to be aiming for a significantly higher number.

The Big Items

Housing is the first wall you run into. The rent market is straightforward: a 1BR averages $1042, while a 2BR will set you back $1170. On the surface, that looks manageable, especially compared to the national insanity. But this is where the "rent vs. buy" calculation gets murky. The median home price data is conspicuously absent here, which is a red flag. In a market like High Point, the lack of a clear median often means inventory is low or the data is skewed by a mix of historic homes and new builds that aren't comparable. Buying a home isn't the slam-dunk equity builder people think it is. You're trading a predictable $1,170 monthly rent payment for a mortgage, property taxes, insurance, and a never-ending list of repairs that will nickel and dime you to death. The market isn't "hot" in the sense of San Francisco, but it's steady. Landlords know they have a captive audience of people priced out of bigger cities, so don't expect rent to drop. If you're planning to stay less than five years, renting is almost always the mathematically superior choice, simply because you avoid the massive transaction costs of buying and selling.

Taxes are where North Carolina tries to pull a fast one on you. The state income tax is a flat 4.75%. While "flat" sounds simple, it's a regressive bite that hits middle earners harder than the wealthy. There’s no escaping it, and it comes right off the top of your paycheck before you even see it. The real sting, however, is the property tax. Guilford County, where High Point sits, has an effective property tax rate of roughly 0.97%. Let's run the numbers on a hypothetical $300,000 house. That’s an annual bill of $2,910, or about $242 a month tacked onto your mortgage, and that number will creep up as the county reassesses your home's value. When you combine the state income tax with the property tax bite, you're looking at a total tax burden that can easily consume 15-20% of a median income, a figure that gets lost when people just look at the low cost of living index.

Don't forget the daily burn of groceries and gas. Groceries in High Point are about 2.3% above the national average. It’s not a huge gap, but it’s there. You won't feel it on a loaf of bread, but you will on a full cart of meat and produce. The local variance is driven by where you shop; the difference between a Food Lion and a Harris Teeter can be 15-20% on a weekly bill. Gas, on the other hand, is a little more forgiving, usually sitting slightly below the national average. But don't get comfortable. The price of crude oil is a global game, and you're still at the mercy of the pump. A daily commute in a vehicle that gets 25 MPG will still burn through $150-$200 a month in fuel, a fixed cost that eats away at your budget regardless of where gas prices are "nationally."

Hidden 'Gotcha' Costs

High Point loves to nickel and dime you with costs that don't show up in the COL index. First, the roads. While you won't find aggressive toll roads like in the Northeast, the N.C. Turnpike Authority is expanding. The Quick Pass system is becoming more of a necessity for efficient travel, and if you let your account auto-replenish with a credit card, you're hit with a $2.50 monthly maintenance fee that adds up to $30 a year for the privilege of paying for a toll. Then there are the HOA fees. If you buy a condo or a home in a planned community, you can easily be looking at $150-$300 per month. That’s an extra $1,800-$3,600 a year in costs that are non-negotiable and can increase without your consent.

Insurance is another bleeding wound. Your standard auto and renters/homeowners insurance is just the start. High Point is in a region where heavy rains can cause localized flash flooding. Standard homeowners and renters policies do not cover flood damage. If you're in a designated flood zone, you're looking at an additional $500-$1,200 a year for a separate flood insurance policy. Even if you're not in a zone, the risk of severe thunderstorms means you should seriously consider "water backup" coverage on your homeowners policy, which adds another $50-$100 annually. And for the downtown dwellers who think they can street park for free, think again. While not as bad as a major metro, designated downtown parking is a mix of free and paid zones, and getting a ticket for parking in a "Resident Only" spot you didn't see is a $25 lesson you only need to learn once.

Lifestyle Inflation

This is where the "True Cost" reveals itself. The base cost of living might be low, but the cost of having a life is what bleeds you dry. Let's break it down with concrete numbers. A "night out" isn't cheap. Two people grabbing dinner at a mid-range restaurant like Blue Water Grille or 1618 will drop about $75-$100, before tip. Add two drinks each, and you're pushing $130. If you want to see a movie at the Palladium, you're looking at $30 for two tickets, plus another $20 for popcorn and a soda. A craft beer at a local brewery like Brown Truck is $7 a pop. A basic gym membership (Planet Fitness) is $10 a month, but a boutique cross-fit or yoga studio will instantly charge $120-$150. And that morning coffee? A latte from a local spot like The Coffee Shop is $5.50. That's $110 a month if you buy it five days a week. These small, individual costs are the real budget killers because they're discretionary, yet they feel like necessities.

Salary Scenarios

Frugal ($42,000 Single / $75,000 Family): This is survival mode, not a lifestyle. For a single person, this means a 1BR apartment with a roommate or a very cheap studio, a used car paid in cash, and a strict budget of $50 a week for groceries. You're not saving much. For a family, this income forces you into a 2BR apartment with the kids sharing a room. You are exclusively shopping at discount grocers, your entertainment is the park or free events, and you are one major car repair or medical bill away from a crisis. There is zero room for error.

Moderate ($60,000 Single / $110,000 Family): This is the "keep up with the Joneses" median. For a single earner, this allows for a decent 1BR or a 2BR with a roommate. You can afford a reliable car payment, contribute to a 401(k), and go out a couple of times a week without checking your balance. You might even save enough for a small vacation. For a family, this is the realistic entry point for buying a home—likely a fixer-upper or a smaller house further from the city center. You can afford decent childcare, one car payment, and maybe a family gym membership, but you're still watching the grocery bill and the gas prices.

Comfortable ($85,000+ Single / $150,000+ Family): This is where you stop worrying about the cost of a beer. For a single person, this income allows you to buy a decent starter home without being house-poor. You can max out a Roth IRA, drive a new car, and absorb a $500 surprise bill without panic. You can afford the boutique gym, the nice dinner, and the downtown parking. For a family, this is true financial security. You can afford a nice home in a good school district, two reliable cars, full funding for kids' activities, and still save aggressively for college and retirement. You can live in High Point on these terms without feeling the constant grind of the lower income brackets.