Fairview, TN vs Oak Island, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Oak Island, NC has a modeled overall cost index 7.4% lower than Fairview, TN.

Fairview, TN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,690 / month
Oak Island, NC · modeled 2BR rent: $1,410 / 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 Fairview, TN and Oak Island, 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

Current salary in Fairview, TN

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $570/month in Oak Island, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $143,161 in Oak Island, NC

Regional cost estimates: Fairview, TN uses Nashville, TN. Oak Island, NC uses Fayetteville, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 7.4%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$570

Savings

Annual Impact

$6.8K

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.

Fairview, TN

Population:10K

Cost Index:

93.6

100 = national average

Typical Home:$551K

Oak Island, NC

Population:9K

Cost Index:

86.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$576K

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Fairview, TN

The Volunteer State

10K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Tennessee, this city has a population of 10K residents.

💡 Advantage: Tennessee has no state income tax!

Oak Island, NC

The Tar Heel State

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 9K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Fairview, TN vs Oak Island, 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.

Category	Fairview, TN	Oak Island, NC	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,297/mo	$1,985/mo	↓ $312less	13.6%
Other	$1,870/mo	$1,605/mo	↓ $265less	14.2%
Transportation	$1,236/mo	$1,200/mo	↓ $35.89less	2.9%
Groceries	$959/mo	$987/mo	↑ $27.94more	2.9%
All Utilities	$524/mo	$534/mo	↑ $9.66more	1.8%
Healthcare	$613/mo	$618/mo	↑ $4.92more	0.8%

Housing

↓ 13.6%

Fairview, TN

$2,297

Oak Island, NC

$1,985

Difference

$312

less

Other

↓ 14.2%

Fairview, TN

$1,870

Oak Island, NC

$1,605

Difference

$265

less

Transportation

↓ 2.9%

Fairview, TN

$1,236

Oak Island, NC

$1,200

Difference

$35.89

less

Groceries

↑ 2.9%

Fairview, TN

$959

Oak Island, NC

$987

Difference

$27.94

All Utilities

↑ 1.8%

Fairview, TN

$524

Oak Island, NC

$534

Difference

$9.66

Healthcare

↑ 0.8%

Fairview, TN

$613

Oak Island, NC

$618

Difference

$4.92

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,470

To$1,230

↓ $240

1 Bed

From$1,530

To$1,290

↓ $240

2 Bed

From$1,690

To$1,410

↓ $280

3 Bed

From$2,130

To$1,960

↓ $170

Fairview, TNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,530–$1,530/mo

Oak Island, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,290–$1,290/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 Fairview, TN

$6,930

Monthly in Oak Island, NC

$570

Difference

Home Values

Fairview

Oak Island

$551K

Median Value

$576K

↑ +0.3%

YoY Change

↑ +0.1%

↑ +47.1%

5-Year Change

↑ +62.3%

Homes in Oak Island are 5% more expensive than Fairview

Calculate payment - Fairview Calculate payment - Oak Island

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $7.1K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$594

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

4.7%

Rate difference

Fairview, TN

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Tennessee State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Oak Island, 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

Fairview, TN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.5%

Property Tax:0.7%

Oak Island, 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

Fairview

Oak Island

50 Good

Air Quality

46 Good

51.6%

Good Air Days

63.7%

97 High

Climate Risk

89 Moderate

🌊🫨🌪

Top Hazards

🌀🌪

▲+2.8°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

42 days

Heat Days >95°F

36 days

▲+2.8°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

42 days

Heat Days >95°F

36 days

Before moving from Fairview, TN to Oak Island, NC

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Oak Island, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Fairview, TN. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
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.
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.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Fairview to Oak Island moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Fairview, TN vs Oak Island, NC

How do the cost estimates for Fairview, TN and Oak Island, NC compare?

Oak Island, NC has a modeled overall cost index 7.4% lower than Fairview, TN. 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 Fairview, TN, the model estimates $143,161 in Oak Island, 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 Fairview, TN and Oak Island, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,690/month in Fairview, TN and $1,410/month in Oak Island, 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 Tennessee and North Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com