CostIndexUSA

Cary, NC vs Flint, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Cary
98.2
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableMI
Flint
93
overall index
$1,075/mo rent

Flint is moderately cheaper than Cary — 5.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cary, you would need $75,800 in Flint. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing28.5%
Cary
103.5
Flint
74
🛒 Groceries3.0%
Cary
96.6
Flint
93.7
🚗 Transportation+1.4%
Cary
103.1
Flint
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+1.4%
Cary
93.3
Flint
94.6
Utilities+9.1%
Cary
89
Flint
97.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Cary to see what you'd need to earn in Flint to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Flint, MI
$75,800
$4,200 less needed in Flint

Formula: salary × (93 ÷ 98.2) = salary × 0.9470. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cary, NC

Median Home Price
$428,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
103.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.6×

Flint, MI

Median Home Price
$183,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,075
Housing Index
74
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Cary has 28.5% lower housing costs compared to Flint.

Income & Job Market

Cary, NC

Median Household Income
$96,100
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
174,721
Top Industries
TechnologyFinanceHealthcareEducationResearch

Flint, MI

Median Household Income
$60,000
Per Capita Income
$34,200
Unemployment Rate
6.9%
Population
81,252
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingEducationGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Cary, NC
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Flint, MI
4.7×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.