CostIndexUSA

Cary, NC vs York, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Cary
98.2
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordablePA
York
96
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

York is slightly cheaper than Cary — 2.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cary, you would need $78,200 in York. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing22.9%
Cary
103.5
York
79.8
🛒 Groceries+4.2%
Cary
96.6
York
100.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Cary
103.1
York
102.6
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Cary
93.3
York
92.8
Utilities+20.2%
Cary
89
York
107

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in York, PA
$78,200
$1,800 less needed in York

Formula: salary × (96 ÷ 98.2) = salary × 0.9776. 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×

York, PA

Median Home Price
$297,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
79.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.0×

Cary has 22.9% lower housing costs compared to York.

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

York, PA

Median Household Income
$81,400
Per Capita Income
$46,400
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
44,619
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareRetailEducationAgriculture

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)

York, PA
5.2×income-to-rent ratio

81% 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.