CostIndexUSA

Charlotte, NC vs Yakima, WA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Charlotte
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableWA
Yakima
95.5
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Yakima is slightly cheaper than Charlotte — 1.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlotte, you would need $78,500 in Yakima. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing25.6%
Charlotte
97.6
Yakima
72.6
🛒 Groceries+8.7%
Charlotte
96.6
Yakima
105
🚗 Transportation+1.3%
Charlotte
103.1
Yakima
104.4
🏥 Healthcare+1.3%
Charlotte
93.3
Yakima
94.5
Utilities+3.0%
Charlotte
89.2
Yakima
91.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Yakima, WA
$78,500
$1,500 less needed in Yakima

Formula: salary × (95.5 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 0.9815. 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×

Yakima, WA

Median Home Price
$342,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
72.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.9×

Charlotte has 25.6% lower housing costs compared to Yakima.

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

Yakima, WA

Median Household Income
$69,500
Per Capita Income
$39,600
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
92,685
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

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)

Yakima, WA
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.