CostIndexUSA

Charlotte, NC vs Ocala, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Charlotte
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableFL
Ocala
95.2
overall index
$1,600/mo rent

Ocala is slightly cheaper than Charlotte — 2.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlotte, you would need $78,300 in Ocala. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing11.7%
Charlotte
97.6
Ocala
86.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Charlotte
96.6
Ocala
96.2
🚗 Transportation+0.7%
Charlotte
103.1
Ocala
103.8
🏥 Healthcare+0.6%
Charlotte
93.3
Ocala
93.9
Utilities2.4%
Charlotte
89.2
Ocala
87.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Ocala, FL
$78,300
$1,700 less needed in Ocala

Formula: salary × (95.2 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 0.9784. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charlotte, NC

Median Home Price
$380,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
97.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Ocala, FL

Median Home Price
$271,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,600
Housing Index
86.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.1×

Charlotte has 11.7% lower housing costs compared to Ocala.

Income & Job Market

Charlotte, NC

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
879,709
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyEnergy

Ocala, FL

Median Household Income
$58,600
Per Capita Income
$33,400
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
63,591
Top Industries
HealthcareEquestrianManufacturingRetailAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

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

Charlotte, NC
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Ocala, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.