Amherst, VA vs Four Oaks, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Four Oaks, NC has a modeled overall cost index 0.7% higher than Amherst, VA.

Amherst, VA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,560 / month
Four Oaks, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$1,350 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Amherst, VA and Four Oaks, NC using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

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Estimated extra cost: $57.96/month in Four Oaks, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,696 in Four Oaks, NC

Regional cost estimates: Amherst, VA uses Richmond, VA. Four Oaks, NC uses Raleigh, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 0.7%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$57.96
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$696
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Amherst, VA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
85.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$283K

Four Oaks, NC

Population:3K
Cost Index:
86.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$302K

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Amherst, VA

The Old Dominion State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Virginia, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Four Oaks, NC

The Tar Heel State

3K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 3K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Amherst, VA vs Four Oaks, NC

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Transportation
↑ 3.8%
Amherst, VA
$1,255
Four Oaks, NC
$1,303
Difference
$48.02
more
Healthcare
↓ 3.1%
Amherst, VA
$668
Four Oaks, NC
$647
Difference
$20.70
less
Groceries
↑ 1.9%
Amherst, VA
$1,014
Four Oaks, NC
$1,033
Difference
$19.23
more
All Utilities
↓ 3.0%
Amherst, VA
$607
Four Oaks, NC
$589
Difference
$17.93
less
Other
↑ 0.9%
Amherst, VA
$1,717
Four Oaks, NC
$1,732
Difference
$14.80
more
Housing
↑ 0.6%
Amherst, VA
$2,239
Four Oaks, NC
$2,254
Difference
$14.55
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,270
To$1,170
↓ $100
1 Bed
From$1,340
To$1,190
↓ $150
2 Bed
From$1,560
To$1,350
↓ $210
3 Bed
From$1,940
To$1,660
↓ $280
Amherst, VAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,340–$1,340/mo

Four Oaks, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,190–$1,190/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Amherst, VA
$7,558
Monthly in Four Oaks, NC
$57.96
Difference

Home Values

Amherst
Four Oaks
$283K
Median Value
$302K
↑ +0.3%
YoY Change
↓ -1.3%
↑ +34.6%
5-Year Change
↑ +42.5%

Homes in Four Oaks are 6% more expensive than Amherst

Calculate payment - AmherstCalculate payment - Four Oaks

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.2K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$104
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.8%
Rate difference

Amherst, VA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Virginia State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,718/month
$104.6K

Four Oaks, NC

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
North Carolina State Tax
Effective: 4.8%
$7.1K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.4%
$44.1K
Take-Home Pay
$8,822/month
$105.9K

Additional Tax Information

Amherst, VA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.7%
Property Tax:0.8%

Four Oaks, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Amherst
Four Oaks
36 Good
Air Quality
46 Good
79.2%
Good Air Days
61.7%
78 Low
Climate Risk
96 High
None
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
30 days
Heat Days >95°F
31 days
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
30 days
Heat Days >95°F
31 days

Before moving from Amherst, VA to Four Oaks, NC

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Four Oaks, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Amherst, VA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Amherst to Four Oaks moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Four Oaks, NC by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Amherst, VA vs Four Oaks, NC

How do the cost estimates for Amherst, VA and Four Oaks, NC compare?

Four Oaks, NC has a modeled overall cost index 0.7% higher than Amherst, VA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Amherst, VA, the model estimates $150,696 in Four Oaks, NC. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Amherst, VA and Four Oaks, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,560/month in Amherst, VA and $1,350/month in Four Oaks, NC. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Virginia and North Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com

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