CostIndexUSA

Cary, NC vs Gilbert, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Cary
98.2
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
AZ
Gilbert
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Cary is moderately cheaper than Gilbert — 5.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cary, you would need $84,200 in Gilbert. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+17.1%
Cary
103.5
Gilbert
121.2
🛒 Groceries1.7%
Cary
96.6
Gilbert
95
🚗 Transportation+5.9%
Cary
103.1
Gilbert
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+5.9%
Cary
93.3
Gilbert
98.8
Utilities+4.8%
Cary
89
Gilbert
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Gilbert, AZ
$84,200
$4,200 more needed in Gilbert

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 98.2) = salary × 1.0519. 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×

Gilbert, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Gilbert has 17.1% higher housing costs compared to Cary.

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

Gilbert, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
254,114
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareFinanceManufacturingRetail

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)

Gilbert, AZ
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.