Sunset Beach, NC vs Triana, AL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Triana, AL has a modeled overall cost index 0.6% higher than Sunset Beach, NC.

Sunset Beach, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$1,510 / month
Triana, AL · 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 Sunset Beach, NC and Triana, 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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Estimated savings: $5.13/month in Triana, AL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $149,938 in Triana, AL

Regional cost estimates: Sunset Beach, NC uses Fayetteville, NC. Triana, AL uses Birmingham, AL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 0.6%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$5.13
Savings
Annual Impact
$61.53
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.

Sunset Beach, NC

Population:5K
Cost Index:
81.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$421K

Triana, AL

Population:4K
Cost Index:
82.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$367K

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Sunset Beach, NC

The Tar Heel State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Triana, AL

The Heart of Dixie

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Sunset Beach, NC vs Triana, 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
↓ 7.4%
Sunset Beach, NC
$2,128
Triana, AL
$1,971
Difference
$157
less
Transportation
↑ 6.4%
Sunset Beach, NC
$1,287
Triana, AL
$1,369
Difference
$82.15
more
Healthcare
↓ 11.7%
Sunset Beach, NC
$683
Triana, AL
$603
Difference
$80.25
less
Other
↑ 4.2%
Sunset Beach, NC
$1,720
Triana, AL
$1,792
Difference
$71.69
more
All Utilities
↑ 7.5%
Sunset Beach, NC
$590
Triana, AL
$634
Difference
$44.18
more
Groceries
↑ 3.1%
Sunset Beach, NC
$1,091
Triana, AL
$1,125
Difference
$34.27
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,320
To$1,250
↓ $70.00
1 Bed
From$1,380
To$1,380
→ $0
2 Bed
From$1,510
To$1,590
↑ $80.00
3 Bed
From$2,100
To$2,050
↓ $50.00
Sunset Beach, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,380–$1,380/mo

Triana, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,380–$1,380/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 Sunset Beach, NC
$7,495
Monthly in Triana, AL
$5.13
Difference

Home Values

Sunset Beach
Triana
$421K
Median Value
$367K
↑ +0.3%
YoY Change
↑ +1.1%
↑ +46.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +29.3%

Homes in Triana are 13% less expensive than Sunset Beach

Calculate payment - Sunset BeachCalculate payment - Triana

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

Sunset Beach, 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

Triana, 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

Sunset Beach, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

Triana, 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

Sunset Beach
Triana
46 Good
Air Quality
57 Moderate
63.7%
Good Air Days
26%
89 Moderate
Climate Risk
98 High
🌀🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
41 days
▲+2.5°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
41 days

Before moving from Sunset Beach, NC to Triana, 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 Triana, AL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Sunset Beach, 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 Sunset Beach to Triana moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Sunset Beach, NC vs Triana, AL

How do the cost estimates for Sunset Beach, NC and Triana, AL compare?

Triana, AL has a modeled overall cost index 0.6% higher than Sunset Beach, 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 Sunset Beach, NC, the model estimates $149,938 in Triana, 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 Sunset Beach, NC and Triana, AL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,510/month in Sunset Beach, NC and $1,590/month in Triana, 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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