Oak Island, NC vs Orange Beach, AL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Orange Beach, AL has a modeled overall cost index 6.2% lower than Oak Island, NC.

Oak Island, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$1,410 / month
Orange Beach, AL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,470 / 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 Orange Beach, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $332/month in Orange Beach, AL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $146,016 in Orange Beach, AL

Regional cost estimates: Oak Island, NC uses Fayetteville, NC. Orange Beach, AL uses New Orleans, LA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 6.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$332
Savings
Annual Impact
$4.0K
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.

Oak Island, NC

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

Orange Beach, AL

Population:9K
Cost Index:
81.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$665K

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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.

Orange Beach, AL

The Heart of Dixie

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Oak Island, NC vs Orange Beach, 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.

Healthcare
↓ 25.7%
Oak Island, NC
$669
Orange Beach, AL
$497
Difference
$172
less
Other
↑ 5.8%
Oak Island, NC
$1,737
Orange Beach, AL
$1,837
Difference
$100
more
Transportation
↓ 7.1%
Oak Island, NC
$1,299
Orange Beach, AL
$1,207
Difference
$91.86
less
All Utilities
↓ 11.2%
Oak Island, NC
$578
Orange Beach, AL
$513
Difference
$64.67
less
Housing
↓ 2.7%
Oak Island, NC
$2,149
Orange Beach, AL
$2,090
Difference
$58.73
less
Groceries
↓ 4.2%
Oak Island, NC
$1,068
Orange Beach, AL
$1,023
Difference
$45.02
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,230
To$1,200
↓ $30.00
1 Bed
From$1,290
To$1,310
↑ $20.00
2 Bed
From$1,410
To$1,470
↑ $60.00
3 Bed
From$1,960
To$1,850
↓ $110
Oak Island, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,290–$1,290/mo

Orange Beach, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,310–$1,310/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
$7,168
Monthly in Orange Beach, AL
$332
Difference

Home Values

Oak Island
Orange Beach
$576K
Median Value
$665K
↑ +0.1%
YoY Change
↓ -1.8%
↑ +62.3%
5-Year Change
↑ +29.5%

Homes in Orange Beach are 15% more expensive than Oak Island

Calculate payment - Oak IslandCalculate payment - Orange Beach

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

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

Orange Beach, 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

Oak Island, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

Orange Beach, 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

Oak Island
Orange Beach
46 Good
Air Quality
41 Good
63.7%
Good Air Days
70.2%
89 Moderate
Climate Risk
98 High
🌀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌀🌡
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
46 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.2°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
46 days

Before moving from Oak Island, NC to Orange Beach, 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 Orange Beach, AL 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 Orange Beach moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Oak Island, NC vs Orange Beach, AL

How do the cost estimates for Oak Island, NC and Orange Beach, AL compare?

Orange Beach, AL has a modeled overall cost index 6.2% lower 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 $146,016 in Orange Beach, 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 Oak Island, NC and Orange Beach, AL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,410/month in Oak Island, NC and $1,470/month in Orange Beach, 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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