Union, KY vs Kill Devil Hills, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Kill Devil Hills, NC has a modeled overall cost index 10.4% higher than Union, KY.

Union, KY · modeled 2BR rent
$2,030 / 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 Union, KY 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $809/month in Kill Devil Hills, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $159,710 in Kill Devil Hills, NC

Regional cost estimates: Union, KY uses Cincinnati, OH. Kill Devil Hills, NC uses Virginia Beach, VA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 10.4%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$809
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$9.7K
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.

Union, KY

Population:8K
Cost Index:
81.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$441K

Kill Devil Hills, NC

Population:8K
Cost Index:
90.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$507K

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Union, KY

The Bluegrass State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Kill Devil Hills, NC

The Tar Heel State

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Union, KY 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.

Housing
↑ 25.2%
Union, KY
$2,087
Kill Devil Hills, NC
$2,613
Difference
$526
more
All Utilities
↑ 20.7%
Union, KY
$540
Kill Devil Hills, NC
$652
Difference
$112
more
Other
↑ 4.4%
Union, KY
$1,792
Kill Devil Hills, NC
$1,870
Difference
$78.02
more
Healthcare
↑ 9.5%
Union, KY
$656
Kill Devil Hills, NC
$718
Difference
$62.19
more
Groceries
↑ 1.9%
Union, KY
$1,069
Kill Devil Hills, NC
$1,090
Difference
$20.57
more
Transportation
↑ 0.8%
Union, KY
$1,356
Kill Devil Hills, NC
$1,366
Difference
$10.42
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,440
To$1,250
↓ $190
1 Bed
From$1,580
To$1,450
↓ $130
2 Bed
From$2,030
To$1,590
↓ $440
3 Bed
From$2,680
To$2,020
↓ $660
Union, KYZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,580–$1,580/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 Union, KY
$8,309
Monthly in Kill Devil Hills, NC
$809
Difference

Home Values

Union
Kill Devil Hills
$441K
Median Value
$507K
↑ +2.1%
YoY Change
↑ +0.3%
↑ +26.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +51.2%

Homes in Kill Devil Hills are 15% more expensive than Union

Calculate payment - UnionCalculate payment - Kill Devil Hills

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $375
Per year
Monthly Difference
$31.25
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.3%
Rate difference

Union, KY

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kentucky State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.7%
$44.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,791/month
$105.5K

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

Union, KY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

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

Union
Kill Devil Hills
52 Moderate
Air Quality
36 Good
44.8%
Good Air Days
80.3%
96 High
Climate Risk
58 Low
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
None
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
29 days
Heat Days >95°F
17 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
29 days
Heat Days >95°F
17 days

Before moving from Union, KY to Kill Devil Hills, NC

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Kill Devil Hills, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Union, KY. 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 Union 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: Union, KY vs Kill Devil Hills, NC

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

Kill Devil Hills, NC has a modeled overall cost index 10.4% higher than Union, KY. 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 Union, KY, the model estimates $159,710 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 Union, KY and Kill Devil Hills, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,030/month in Union, KY 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.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Kentucky and North Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com

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