Hillsborough, NC vs Kill Devil Hills, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Kill Devil Hills, NC has a modeled overall cost index 2.2% lower than Hillsborough, NC.

Hillsborough, NC · modeled 2BR rent: $1,690 / month
Kill Devil Hills, NC · modeled 2BR rent: $1,590 / 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 Hillsborough, NC and Kill Devil Hills, 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 Hillsborough, NC

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $183/month in Kill Devil Hills, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $147,801 in Kill Devil Hills, NC

Regional cost estimates: Hillsborough, NC uses Durham, NC. Kill Devil Hills, NC uses Virginia Beach, VA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 2.2%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$183

Savings

Annual Impact

$2.2K

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.

Hillsborough, NC

Population:10K

Cost Index:

92.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$463K

Kill Devil Hills, NC

Population:8K

Cost Index:

90.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$507K

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Hillsborough, NC

The Tar Heel State

10K

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Kill Devil Hills, NC

The Tar Heel State

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Hillsborough, NC vs Kill Devil Hills, 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	Hillsborough, NC	Kill Devil Hills, NC	Difference	Change
Other	$1,718/mo	$1,647/mo	↓ $70.56less	4.1%
Transportation	$1,267/mo	$1,203/mo	↓ $63.61less	5.0%
Housing	$2,353/mo	$2,301/mo	↓ $52.43less	2.2%
Groceries	$985/mo	$960/mo	↓ $25.04less	2.5%
Healthcare	$617/mo	$632/mo	↑ $15.30more	2.5%
All Utilities	$561/mo	$574/mo	↑ $13.07more	2.3%

Other

↓ 4.1%

Hillsborough, NC

$1,718

Kill Devil Hills, NC

$1,647

Difference

$70.56

less

Transportation

↓ 5.0%

Hillsborough, NC

$1,267

Kill Devil Hills, NC

$1,203

Difference

$63.61

less

Housing

↓ 2.2%

Hillsborough, NC

$2,353

Kill Devil Hills, NC

$2,301

Difference

$52.43

less

Groceries

↓ 2.5%

Hillsborough, NC

$985

Kill Devil Hills, NC

$960

Difference

$25.04

less

Healthcare

↑ 2.5%

Hillsborough, NC

$617

Kill Devil Hills, NC

$632

Difference

$15.30

All Utilities

↑ 2.3%

Hillsborough, NC

$561

Kill Devil Hills, NC

$574

Difference

$13.07

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,400

To$1,250

↓ $150

1 Bed

From$1,480

To$1,450

↓ $30.00

2 Bed

From$1,690

To$1,590

↓ $100

3 Bed

From$2,110

To$2,020

↓ $90.00

Hillsborough, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,480–$1,480/mo

Kill Devil Hills, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,450–$1,450/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 Hillsborough, NC

$7,317

Monthly in Kill Devil Hills, NC

$183

Difference

Home Values

Hillsborough

Kill Devil Hills

$463K

Median Value

$507K

↓ -1.2%

YoY Change

↑ +0.3%

↑ +39.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +51.2%

Homes in Kill Devil Hills are 9% more expensive than Hillsborough

Calculate payment - Hillsborough Calculate payment - Kill Devil Hills

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

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Hillsborough, 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

Kill Devil Hills, 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

Hillsborough, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%

Property Tax:0.8%

Kill Devil Hills, 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

Hillsborough

Kill Devil Hills

51 Moderate

Air Quality

36 Good

46.4%

Good Air Days

80.3%

90 Moderate

Climate Risk

58 Low

🌪💨

Top Hazards

None

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

36 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

36 days

Heat Days >95°F

17 days

Before moving from Hillsborough, NC to Kill Devil Hills, NC

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Kill Devil Hills, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Hillsborough, NC. 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 Hillsborough to Kill Devil Hills moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Kill Devil Hills, NC by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Hillsborough, NC vs Kill Devil Hills, NC

How do the cost estimates for Hillsborough, NC and Kill Devil Hills, NC compare?

Kill Devil Hills, NC has a modeled overall cost index 2.2% lower than Hillsborough, 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 Hillsborough, NC, the model estimates $147,801 in Kill Devil Hills, 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 Hillsborough, NC and Kill Devil Hills, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,690/month in Hillsborough, NC and $1,590/month in Kill Devil Hills, 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.