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

Which city costs less?

Fairview, TN has a modeled overall cost index 7.9% higher than Oak Island, NC.

Oak Island, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$1,410 / month
Fairview, TN · modeled 2BR rent
$1,690 / 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 Oak Island, NC and Fairview, TN 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: $617/month in Fairview, TN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $157,402 in Fairview, TN

Regional cost estimates: Oak Island, NC uses Fayetteville, NC. Fairview, TN uses Nashville, TN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 7.9%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$617
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$7.4K
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.

Oak Island, NC

Population:9K
Cost Index:
86.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$576K

Fairview, TN

Population:10K
Cost Index:
93.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$551K

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Oak Island, NC

The Tar Heel State

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

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!

Cost Breakdown by Category

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

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
↑ 15.7%
Oak Island, NC
$2,149
Fairview, TN
$2,486
Difference
$337
more
Other
↑ 16.5%
Oak Island, NC
$1,737
Fairview, TN
$2,024
Difference
$287
more
Transportation
↑ 3.0%
Oak Island, NC
$1,299
Fairview, TN
$1,338
Difference
$38.85
more
Groceries
↓ 2.8%
Oak Island, NC
$1,068
Fairview, TN
$1,038
Difference
$30.24
less
All Utilities
↓ 1.8%
Oak Island, NC
$578
Fairview, TN
$568
Difference
$10.45
less
Healthcare
↓ 0.8%
Oak Island, NC
$669
Fairview, TN
$664
Difference
$5.33
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,230
To$1,470
↑ $240
1 Bed
From$1,290
To$1,530
↑ $240
2 Bed
From$1,410
To$1,690
↑ $280
3 Bed
From$1,960
To$2,130
↑ $170
Oak Island, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,290–$1,290/mo

Fairview, TNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,530–$1,530/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 Oak Island, NC
$8,117
Monthly in Fairview, TN
$617
Difference

Home Values

Oak Island
Fairview
$576K
Median Value
$551K
↑ +0.1%
YoY Change
↑ +0.3%
↑ +62.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +47.1%

Homes in Fairview are 4% less expensive than Oak Island

Calculate payment - Oak IslandCalculate payment - Fairview

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $7.1K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$594
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
4.7%
Rate difference

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

Fairview, TN

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Tennessee State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Oak Island, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

Fairview, TN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.5%
Property Tax:0.7%

💡 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

Oak Island
Fairview
46 Good
Air Quality
50 Good
63.7%
Good Air Days
51.6%
89 Moderate
Climate Risk
97 High
🌀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🫨🌪
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
42 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
42 days

Before moving from Oak Island, NC to Fairview, TN

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

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

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

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

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

Fairview, TN has a modeled overall cost index 7.9% higher than Oak Island, 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 Oak Island, NC, the model estimates $157,402 in Fairview, TN. 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 Oak Island, NC and Fairview, TN?

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

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