Zebulon, GA vs Lake Waccamaw, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Lake Waccamaw, NC has a modeled overall cost index 10.1% lower than Zebulon, GA.

Zebulon, GA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,160 / month
Lake Waccamaw, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$1,190 / 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 Zebulon, GA and Lake Waccamaw, 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

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Estimated savings: $732/month in Lake Waccamaw, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $141,210 in Lake Waccamaw, NC

Regional cost estimates: Zebulon, GA uses Atlanta, GA. Lake Waccamaw, NC uses Fayetteville, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 10.1%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$732
Savings
Annual Impact
$8.8K
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.

Zebulon, GA

Population:1K
Cost Index:
90.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$320K

Lake Waccamaw, NC

Population:1K
Cost Index:
80.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$311K

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Zebulon, GA

The Peach State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Georgia, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Lake Waccamaw, NC

The Tar Heel State

1K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 1K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Zebulon, GA vs Lake Waccamaw, 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
↓ 12.9%
Zebulon, GA
$2,201
Lake Waccamaw, NC
$1,918
Difference
$283
less
Other
↓ 13.6%
Zebulon, GA
$1,794
Lake Waccamaw, NC
$1,550
Difference
$243
less
Transportation
↓ 14.0%
Zebulon, GA
$1,349
Lake Waccamaw, NC
$1,160
Difference
$189
less
All Utilities
↓ 9.7%
Zebulon, GA
$591
Lake Waccamaw, NC
$534
Difference
$57.09
less
Healthcare
↑ 3.9%
Zebulon, GA
$595
Lake Waccamaw, NC
$618
Difference
$23.21
more
Groceries
↑ 1.8%
Zebulon, GA
$970
Lake Waccamaw, NC
$987
Difference
$17.04
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,010
To$920
↓ $90.00
1 Bed
From$1,060
To$930
↓ $130
2 Bed
From$1,160
To$1,190
↑ $30.00
3 Bed
From$1,390
To$1,430
↑ $40.00
Zebulon, GAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,060–$1,060/mo

Lake Waccamaw, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $930–$930/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 Zebulon, GA
$6,768
Monthly in Lake Waccamaw, NC
$732
Difference

Home Values

Zebulon
Lake Waccamaw
$320K
Median Value
$311K
↑ +1%
YoY Change
↑ +1.5%
↑ +51.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +33.6%

Homes in Lake Waccamaw are 3% less expensive than Zebulon

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $1.3K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$111
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.9%
Rate difference

Zebulon, GA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Georgia State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,711/month
$104.5K

Lake Waccamaw, 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

Zebulon, GA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.3%
Property Tax:0.9%

Lake Waccamaw, 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

Zebulon
Lake Waccamaw
50 Good
Air Quality
46 Good
50.8%
Good Air Days
63.7%
96 High
Climate Risk
89 Moderate
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌀🌪
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
28 days
Heat Days >95°F
36 days
▲+2.7°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
28 days
Heat Days >95°F
36 days

Before moving from Zebulon, GA to Lake Waccamaw, 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 Lake Waccamaw, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Zebulon, GA. 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 Zebulon to Lake Waccamaw moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Lake Waccamaw, NC by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Zebulon, GA vs Lake Waccamaw, NC

How do the cost estimates for Zebulon, GA and Lake Waccamaw, NC compare?

Lake Waccamaw, NC has a modeled overall cost index 10.1% lower than Zebulon, GA. 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 Zebulon, GA, the model estimates $141,210 in Lake Waccamaw, 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 Zebulon, GA and Lake Waccamaw, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,160/month in Zebulon, GA and $1,190/month in Lake Waccamaw, 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 Georgia and North Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com

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