Manteo, NC vs Dauphin Island, AL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Dauphin Island, AL has a modeled overall cost index 7.0% lower than Manteo, NC.

Manteo, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$1,420 / month
Dauphin Island, AL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,480 / 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 Manteo, NC and Dauphin Island, AL 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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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $464/month in Dauphin Island, AL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $144,433 in Dauphin Island, AL

Regional cost estimates: Manteo, NC uses Virginia Beach, VA. Dauphin Island, AL uses New Orleans, LA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 7.0%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$464
Savings
Annual Impact
$5.6K
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.

Manteo, NC

Population:2K
Cost Index:
85.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$506K

Dauphin Island, AL

Population:2K
Cost Index:
79.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$447K

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Manteo, NC

The Tar Heel State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Dauphin Island, AL

The Heart of Dixie

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Manteo, NC vs Dauphin Island, AL

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
↓ 12.6%
Manteo, NC
$2,337
Dauphin Island, AL
$2,044
Difference
$294
less
Healthcare
↓ 25.6%
Manteo, NC
$662
Dauphin Island, AL
$493
Difference
$169
less
Other
↑ 7.4%
Manteo, NC
$1,673
Dauphin Island, AL
$1,796
Difference
$124
more
All Utilities
↓ 15.3%
Manteo, NC
$601
Dauphin Island, AL
$509
Difference
$92.12
less
Transportation
↓ 3.4%
Manteo, NC
$1,222
Dauphin Island, AL
$1,181
Difference
$41.58
less
Groceries
↑ 0.9%
Manteo, NC
$1,005
Dauphin Island, AL
$1,014
Difference
$9.36
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,110
To$1,170
↑ $60.00
1 Bed
From$1,300
To$1,260
↓ $40.00
2 Bed
From$1,420
To$1,480
↑ $60.00
3 Bed
From$1,810
To$1,930
↑ $120
Manteo, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,300–$1,300/mo

Dauphin Island, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,260–$1,260/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 Manteo, NC
$7,036
Monthly in Dauphin Island, AL
$464
Difference

Home Values

Manteo
Dauphin Island
$506K
Median Value
$447K
↓ -1.3%
YoY Change
↓ -1.5%
↑ +45.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +35.2%

Homes in Dauphin Island are 12% less expensive than Manteo

Calculate payment - ManteoCalculate payment - Dauphin Island

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $335
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$27.92
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.2%
Rate difference

Manteo, 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

Dauphin Island, AL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Alabama State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.6%
$44.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,794/month
$105.5K

Additional Tax Information

Manteo, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

Dauphin Island, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%
Property Tax:0.4%

💡 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

Manteo
Dauphin Island
36 Good
Air Quality
41 Good
80.3%
Good Air Days
70.2%
58 Low
Climate Risk
98 High
None
Top Hazards
🌊🌀🌡
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
46 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
17 days
Heat Days >95°F
46 days

Before moving from Manteo, NC to Dauphin Island, AL

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Dauphin Island, AL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Manteo, 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 Manteo to Dauphin Island moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Manteo, NC vs Dauphin Island, AL

How do the cost estimates for Manteo, NC and Dauphin Island, AL compare?

Dauphin Island, AL has a modeled overall cost index 7.0% lower than Manteo, 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 Manteo, NC, the model estimates $144,433 in Dauphin Island, AL. 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 Manteo, NC and Dauphin Island, AL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,420/month in Manteo, NC and $1,480/month in Dauphin Island, AL. 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 Alabama on TaxTakeHome.com

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