CICostIndexUSA

Atlantic City, NJ vs Charlotte, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NJ
Atlantic City
98.9
overall index
$2,100/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Charlotte
97.3
overall index
$1,750/mo rent

Charlotte is slightly cheaper than Atlantic City — 1.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Atlantic City, you would need $78,700 in Charlotte. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing1.1%
Atlantic City
98.7
Charlotte
97.6
🛒 Groceries3.2%
Atlantic City
99.8
Charlotte
96.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Atlantic City
102.8
Charlotte
103.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Atlantic City
93
Charlotte
93.3
Utilities18.3%
Atlantic City
109.2
Charlotte
89.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Atlantic City to see what you'd need to earn in Charlotte to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Charlotte, NC
$78,700
$1,300 less needed in Charlotte

Formula: salary × (97.3 ÷ 98.9) = salary × 0.9838. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Atlantic City, NJ

Median Home Price
$387,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,100
Housing Index
98.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Charlotte, NC

Median Home Price
$389,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Housing Index
97.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Atlantic City has 1.1% lower housing costs compared to Charlotte.

Income & Job Market

Atlantic City, NJ

Median Household Income
$80,800
Per Capita Income
$46,100
Unemployment Rate
6.8%
Population
38,497
Top Industries
GamingTourismHealthcareHospitalityRetail

Charlotte, NC

Median Household Income
$85,900
Per Capita Income
$49,000
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
879,709
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyEnergy

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Atlantic City, NJ
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Charlotte, NC
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.