Franklin, NC vs Luray, VA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Luray, VA has a modeled overall cost index 35.7% higher than Franklin, NC.

Franklin, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$970 / month
Luray, VA · modeled 2BR rent
$910 / 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 Franklin, NC and Luray, VA 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $2,833/month in Luray, VA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $183,995 in Luray, VA

Regional cost estimates: Franklin, NC uses Atlanta, GA. Luray, VA uses Washington, DC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 35.7%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$2,833
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$34.0K
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.

Franklin, NC

Population:4K
Cost Index:
79.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$288K

Luray, VA

Population:5K
Cost Index:
108.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$301K

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Franklin, NC

The Tar Heel State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 4K residents.

Luray, VA

The Old Dominion State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Virginia, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Franklin, NC vs Luray, VA

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
↑ 123.9%
Franklin, NC
$2,162
Luray, VA
$4,841
Difference
$2,679
more
Transportation
↑ 23.2%
Franklin, NC
$1,325
Luray, VA
$1,633
Difference
$307
more
Other
↓ 10.3%
Franklin, NC
$1,762
Luray, VA
$1,580
Difference
$182
less
Groceries
↑ 9.4%
Franklin, NC
$1,012
Luray, VA
$1,108
Difference
$95.54
more
All Utilities
↓ 15.5%
Franklin, NC
$617
Luray, VA
$522
Difference
$95.34
less
Healthcare
↑ 4.4%
Franklin, NC
$621
Luray, VA
$649
Difference
$27.61
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$780
To$790
↑ $10.00
1 Bed
From$830
To$800
↓ $30.00
2 Bed
From$970
To$910
↓ $60.00
3 Bed
From$1,230
To$1,150
↓ $80.00
Franklin, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $830–$830/mo

Luray, VAZIP-level data

1BR range: $800–$800/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 Franklin, NC
$10,333
Monthly in Luray, VA
$2,833
Difference

Home Values

Franklin
Luray
$288K
Median Value
$301K
↑ +1.4%
YoY Change
↑ +2%
↑ +53.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +45.2%

Homes in Luray are 5% more expensive than Franklin

Calculate payment - FranklinCalculate payment - Luray

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.2K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$104
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.8%
Rate difference

Franklin, 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

Luray, 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

Additional Tax Information

Franklin, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

Luray, VA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.7%
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

Franklin
Luray
50 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
50.8%
Good Air Days
63.7%
96 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌀🌡
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
28 days
Heat Days >95°F
27 days
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
28 days
Heat Days >95°F
27 days

Before moving from Franklin, NC to Luray, VA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Luray, VA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Franklin, 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 Franklin to Luray moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Luray, VA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Franklin, NC vs Luray, VA

How do the cost estimates for Franklin, NC and Luray, VA compare?

Luray, VA has a modeled overall cost index 35.7% higher than Franklin, 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 Franklin, NC, the model estimates $183,995 in Luray, VA. 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 Franklin, NC and Luray, VA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $970/month in Franklin, NC and $910/month in Luray, VA. 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 North Carolina and Virginia on TaxTakeHome.com

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