CostIndexUSA

Charlotte, NC vs Reno, NV Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Charlotte
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
NV
Reno
101
overall index
$1,900/mo rent

Charlotte is slightly cheaper than Reno — 3.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlotte, you would need $83,000 in Reno. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+26.5%
Charlotte
97.6
Reno
123.5
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Charlotte
96.6
Reno
96.3
🚗 Transportation+0.6%
Charlotte
103.1
Reno
103.7
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Charlotte
93.3
Reno
93.8
Utilities≈ Equal
Charlotte
89.2
Reno
89.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Reno, NV
$83,000
$3,000 more needed in Reno

Formula: salary × (101 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 1.0380. 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×

Reno, NV

Median Home Price
$551,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,900
Housing Index
123.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.2×

Reno has 26.5% higher housing costs compared to Charlotte.

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

Reno, NV

Median Household Income
$83,800
Per Capita Income
$47,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
264,165
Top Industries
GamingHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyLogistics

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)

Reno, NV
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.