North Carolina vs Pennsylvania
Side-by-side cost of living comparison.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
4.75%
6%
+1.3 pp in Pennsylvania
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
3.07%
+0.9 pp in North Carolina
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$1,349
$1,189
+12% in North Carolina
Median Home Value
$364,650
$232,400
+36% in North Carolina
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$80,431
$60,698
+25% in North Carolina
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
60.3°F
57.1°F
+3.1°F in North Carolina
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 2/1 cities we track in North Carolina/Pennsylvania — not population-weighted statewide figures. Taxes are exact state-level rates. Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026.