Living Cost Compare
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,560/mo est.

vs
Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,438 in Charlotte, NC and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 38% higher in Charlotte, NC. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Charlotte, NC
Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio
$1,424
$1,111
+22% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,374
$978
+29% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,491
$1,386
+7% in Charlotte, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,663
$1,695
+2% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$351,500
$337,800
+4% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$78,438
$48,416
+38% in Charlotte, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$61,430
+23% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.4 yr
34.8 yr
+0.4 yr in Newark, NJ
Homeownership
51.5%
24.1%
+27.4 pp in Charlotte, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.4%
17.4%
+30.0 pp in Charlotte, NC
Avg Commute
25.0 min
33.2 min
+8.2 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
733.1
582.5
+21% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
3,718.9
1,961.8
+47% 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
54.9°F
+5.0°F in Charlotte, NC
Annual Precipitation
41.6 in
46.3 in
+4.6 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/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)
15.1
23.3
+54% in Newark, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.56
$15.93
+42% in Charlotte, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Newark, NJ
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Newark, NJ
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Charlotte, NC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Newark, NJ
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Newark, NJ
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Newark, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / NJ)
4.75%
6.625%
+1.9 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
10.75%
+6.8 pp in NJ

Charlotte vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or Newark?
Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Charlotte, NC's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $39,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or Newark?
Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).