CostIndexUSA

Cary, NC vs Wenatchee, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Cary
98.2
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
WA
Wenatchee
103.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent

Cary is moderately cheaper than Wenatchee — 5.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cary, you would need $84,600 in Wenatchee. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+11.1%
Cary
103.5
Wenatchee
115
🛒 Groceries+8.7%
Cary
96.6
Wenatchee
105
🚗 Transportation+1.3%
Cary
103.1
Wenatchee
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+1.3%
Cary
93.3
Wenatchee
94.5
Utilities+13.0%
Cary
89
Wenatchee
100.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wenatchee, WA
$84,600
$4,600 more needed in Wenatchee

Formula: salary × (103.9 ÷ 98.2) = salary × 1.0580. 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×

Wenatchee, WA

Median Home Price
$503,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,800
Housing Index
115
Price-to-Rent Ratio
23.3×

Wenatchee has 11.1% 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

Wenatchee, WA

Median Household Income
$73,600
Per Capita Income
$42,000
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
33,621
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareTourismManufacturingRetail

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)

Wenatchee, WA
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.