Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Wake County, NC would need to be about $39,910 in Craven County, NC, or $10,090 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Wake County, NC vs Craven County, NC: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Craven County, NC is cheaper than Wake County, NC.
Moving to Craven County, NC is estimated to save $12,972 per year.
Cheaper County
Craven County, NCSave about $12,972 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Wake County, NC is about $39,910 in Craven County, NC.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $1,614 per year. Housing saves $7,415 per year.
Housing: $7,415 lower in Craven County, NC
Taxes: $4,127 lower in Craven County, NC
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,614 higher in Craven County, NC
Food: $416 lower in Craven County, NC
Transport: $198 lower in Craven County, NC
Wake County, NC→Craven County, NC
Equivalent salary in Craven County, NC
$39,910
-20.18% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Wake County, NC: $128,556
Median Income in Craven County, NC: $81,741
Living Index in Wake County, NC 49.99%
Living Index in Craven County, NC 62.76%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Wake County, NC to Craven County, NC.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Wake County, NC to Craven County, NC is estimated to save $12,972 per year. A $50,000 salary in Wake County, NC would have similar purchasing power to about $39,910 in Craven County, NC. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -20.18% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $7,415 per year lower (-38.29%); Taxes is $4,127 per year lower (-28.69%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Wake County, NC and Craven County, NC, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 50.0% of median family income in Wake County, NC and 62.8% in Craven County, NC. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $7,415 per year lower in Craven County, NC than in Wake County, NC. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Craven County, NC changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $416 per year lower in Craven County, NC than in Wake County, NC. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Craven County, NC can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $198 per year lower in Craven County, NC than in Wake County, NC. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Craven County, NC.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,614 per year higher in Craven County, NC than in Wake County, NC. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Craven County, NC changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $2,431 per year lower in Craven County, NC than in Wake County, NC. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Craven County, NC help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Wake County, NC and Craven County, NC, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Craven County, NC, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $4,127 per year lower in Craven County, NC than in Wake County, NC. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Craven County, NC matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Craven County, NC.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Craven County, NC
Annual Increase:
$1,614 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Craven County, NC.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Craven County, NC
Annual Savings:
$7,415 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Craven County, NC.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -38% lower | |
| Food | -9% lower | |
| Transport | -2% lower | |
| Healthcare | 30% higher | |
| Other Costs | -33% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -29% lower |
In Craven County, NC, modeled annual costs are $51,297 compared with $64,269 in Wake County, NC.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Craven County, NC. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Craven County, NC and Wake County, NC are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
