Carolina Beach, NC vs Oak Ridge, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Oak Ridge, NC has a modeled overall cost index 4.0% lower than Carolina Beach, NC.

Carolina Beach, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$1,790 / month
Oak Ridge, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$1,420 / 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 Carolina Beach, NC and Oak Ridge, 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 savings: $158/month in Oak Ridge, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,102 in Oak Ridge, NC

Regional cost estimates: Carolina Beach, NC uses Fayetteville, NC. Oak Ridge, NC uses Winston-Salem, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 4.0%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$158
Savings
Annual Impact
$1.9K
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.

Carolina Beach, NC

Population:7K
Cost Index:
85.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$586K

Oak Ridge, NC

Population:8K
Cost Index:
82.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$586K

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Carolina Beach, NC

The Tar Heel State

7K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 7K residents.

Oak Ridge, NC

The Tar Heel State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Carolina Beach, NC vs Oak Ridge, 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.

Housing
↓ 4.2%
Carolina Beach, NC
$2,145
Oak Ridge, NC
$2,054
Difference
$91.09
less
Other
↓ 2.8%
Carolina Beach, NC
$1,734
Oak Ridge, NC
$1,685
Difference
$48.75
less
Transportation
↓ 0.7%
Carolina Beach, NC
$1,297
Oak Ridge, NC
$1,287
Difference
$9.65
less
Groceries
↓ 0.4%
Carolina Beach, NC
$1,072
Oak Ridge, NC
$1,068
Difference
$4.00
less
Healthcare
↓ 0.4%
Carolina Beach, NC
$672
Oak Ridge, NC
$669
Difference
$2.50
less
All Utilities
↓ 0.4%
Carolina Beach, NC
$580
Oak Ridge, NC
$578
Difference
$2.16
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,230
To$1,190
↓ $40.00
1 Bed
From$1,630
To$1,270
↓ $360
2 Bed
From$1,790
To$1,420
↓ $370
3 Bed
From$2,350
To$1,830
↓ $520
Carolina Beach, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,630–$1,630/mo

Oak Ridge, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,270–$1,270/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 Carolina Beach, NC
$7,342
Monthly in Oak Ridge, NC
$158
Difference

Home Values

Carolina Beach
Oak Ridge
$586K
Median Value
$586K
↓ -3.1%
YoY Change
↑ +1%
↑ +47.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +37.2%
Calculate payment - Carolina BeachCalculate payment - Oak Ridge

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Carolina Beach, 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

Oak Ridge, 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

Carolina Beach, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

Oak Ridge, 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

Carolina Beach
Oak Ridge
46 Good
Air Quality
47 Good
63.7%
Good Air Days
57.4%
89 Moderate
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
30 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
30 days

Before moving from Carolina Beach, NC to Oak Ridge, 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 Oak Ridge, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Carolina Beach, NC. 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 Carolina Beach to Oak Ridge moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Carolina Beach, NC vs Oak Ridge, NC

How do the cost estimates for Carolina Beach, NC and Oak Ridge, NC compare?

Oak Ridge, NC has a modeled overall cost index 4.0% lower than Carolina Beach, NC. 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 Carolina Beach, NC, the model estimates $148,102 in Oak Ridge, 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 Carolina Beach, NC and Oak Ridge, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,790/month in Carolina Beach, NC and $1,420/month in Oak Ridge, 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.

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