Living Cost Compare
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,560/mo est.

vs
Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/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 $920 in Green Bay, WI. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,438 in Charlotte, NC and $62,546 in Green Bay, WI — about 20% higher in Charlotte, NC. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Charlotte, NC
Green Bay, WI

Rent

Studio
$1,424
$707
+50% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,374
$730
+47% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,491
$956
+36% in Charlotte, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,663
$1,287
+23% in Charlotte, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$351,500
$191,500
+46% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$78,438
$62,546
+20% in Charlotte, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$49,940
+0% in Charlotte, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.4 yr
35.7 yr
+1.3 yr in Green Bay, WI
Homeownership
51.5%
55.9%
+4.4 pp in Green Bay, WI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.4%
25.5%
+21.9 pp in Charlotte, NC
Avg Commute
25.0 min
18.9 min
+6.1 min in Charlotte, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
733.1
501.7
+32% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
3,718.9
1,331.2
+64% 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
44.3°F
+15.6°F in Charlotte, NC
Annual Precipitation
41.6 in
29.5 in
+12.1 in in Charlotte, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Green Bay, WI

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.20
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
19.7
+31% in Green Bay, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.56
$11.79
+57% in Charlotte, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Green Bay, WI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charlotte, NC
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Green Bay, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Green Bay, WI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Green Bay, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / WI)
4.75%
5%
+0.3 pp in WI
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
7.65%
+3.7 pp in WI

Charlotte vs Green Bay — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or Green Bay?
Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Charlotte, NC's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in Green Bay?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $29,000 in Green Bay.
Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or Green Bay?
Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax); Green Bay under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).