Wilkesboro, NC vs Bean Station, TN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Bean Station, TN has a modeled overall cost index 7.2% lower than Wilkesboro, NC.

Wilkesboro, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$930 / month
Bean Station, TN · modeled 2BR rent
$930 / 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 Wilkesboro, NC and Bean Station, 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

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Estimated savings: $562/month in Bean Station, TN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $143,252 in Bean Station, TN

Regional cost estimates: Wilkesboro, NC uses Winston-Salem, NC. Bean Station, TN uses Lexington, KY. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 7.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$562
Savings
Annual Impact
$6.7K
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.

Wilkesboro, NC

Population:4K
Cost Index:
82.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$260K

Bean Station, TN

Population:3K
Cost Index:
76.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$252K

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Wilkesboro, NC

The Tar Heel State

4K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Bean Station, TN

The Volunteer State

3K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Tennessee, this city has a population of 3K residents.

💡 Advantage: Tennessee has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Wilkesboro, NC vs Bean Station, 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.

Transportation
↓ 10.2%
Wilkesboro, NC
$1,316
Bean Station, TN
$1,182
Difference
$134
less
Other
↓ 7.4%
Wilkesboro, NC
$1,723
Bean Station, TN
$1,595
Difference
$128
less
All Utilities
↓ 15.7%
Wilkesboro, NC
$589
Bean Station, TN
$497
Difference
$92.42
less
Healthcare
↓ 13.5%
Wilkesboro, NC
$682
Bean Station, TN
$590
Difference
$92.34
less
Groceries
↓ 5.8%
Wilkesboro, NC
$1,089
Bean Station, TN
$1,026
Difference
$62.75
less
Housing
↓ 2.5%
Wilkesboro, NC
$2,100
Bean Station, TN
$2,047
Difference
$53.07
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$780
To$700
↓ $80.00
1 Bed
From$790
To$700
↓ $90.00
2 Bed
From$930
To$930
→ $0
3 Bed
From$1,230
To$1,220
↓ $10.00
Wilkesboro, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $790–$790/mo

Bean Station, TNZIP-level data

1BR range: $700–$700/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 Wilkesboro, NC
$6,938
Monthly in Bean Station, TN
$562
Difference

Home Values

Wilkesboro
Bean Station
$260K
Median Value
$252K
↑ +2.4%
YoY Change
↑ +0.7%
↑ +47.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +45.6%

Homes in Bean Station are 3% less expensive than Wilkesboro

Calculate payment - WilkesboroCalculate payment - Bean Station

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

Wilkesboro, 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

Bean Station, 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

Wilkesboro, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

Bean Station, 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

Wilkesboro
Bean Station
47 Good
Air Quality
41 Good
57.4%
Good Air Days
79.2%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌪💨
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
30 days
Heat Days >95°F
21 days
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
30 days
Heat Days >95°F
21 days

Before moving from Wilkesboro, NC to Bean Station, 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 Bean Station, TN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Wilkesboro, 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 Wilkesboro to Bean Station moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Wilkesboro, NC vs Bean Station, TN

How do the cost estimates for Wilkesboro, NC and Bean Station, TN compare?

Bean Station, TN has a modeled overall cost index 7.2% lower than Wilkesboro, 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 Wilkesboro, NC, the model estimates $143,252 in Bean Station, 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 Wilkesboro, NC and Bean Station, TN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $930/month in Wilkesboro, NC and $930/month in Bean Station, 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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