Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or Concord?

Concord, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Charlotte, NC's $1,560, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in Concord?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $45,000 in Concord.

Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or Concord?

Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax); Concord under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Charlotte vs Concord Cost of Living 2026

Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,560/mo est.

Concord

New Hampshire

$1,410/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,560 in Charlotte, NC versus $1,410 in Concord, NH. Overall, Concord, NH is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,438 in Charlotte, NC and $83,701 in Concord, NH — about 6% higher in Concord, NH. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Charlotte, NC

Concord, NH

Rent

Studio

$1,424

$876

+38% in Charlotte, NC

1 Bedroom

$1,374

$1,134

+17% in Charlotte, NC

2 Bedroom

$1,491

$1,475

+1% in Charlotte, NC

3 Bedroom

$1,663

$1,769

+6% in Concord, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$351,500

$323,700

+8% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income

$78,438

$83,701

+7% in Concord, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,990

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.4 yr

40.7 yr

+6.3 yr in Concord, NH

Homeownership

51.5%

57.4%

+5.9 pp in Concord, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

47.4%

40.1%

+7.3 pp in Charlotte, NC

Avg Commute

25.0 min

23.2 min

+1.8 min in Charlotte, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

733.1

180.7

+75% in Charlotte, NC

Property Crime

3,718.9

1,251.5

+66% in Charlotte, NC

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

59.9°F

46.4°F

+13.5°F in Charlotte, NC

Annual Precipitation

41.6 in

40.6 in

+1.0 in in Charlotte, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.20

—

Adult base one-way fare — CATS vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.7

27.0

+83% in Concord, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.10

$21.67

+28% in Charlotte, NC

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Concord, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Concord, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Charlotte, NC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Concord, NH

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Concord, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Concord, NH

Average prices — South vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / NH)

4.75%

None

+4.8 pp in NC

Income Tax (top rate)

3.99%

None

+4.0 pp in NC

Charlotte vs Concord — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or Concord?: Concord, NH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Charlotte, NC's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in Concord?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $45,000 in Concord.
Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or Concord?: Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax); Concord under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).