Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Wake County, NC would need to be about $35,505 in Duplin County, NC, or $14,495 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Wake County, NC vs Duplin County, NC: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Duplin County, NC is cheaper than Wake County, NC.
Moving to Duplin County, NC is estimated to save $18,631 per year.
Cheaper County
Duplin County, NCSave about $18,631 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Wake County, NC is about $35,505 in Duplin County, NC.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $1,174 per year. Housing saves $10,499 per year.
Housing: $10,499 lower in Duplin County, NC
Taxes: $5,518 lower in Duplin County, NC
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $635 higher in Duplin County, NC
Food: $889 lower in Duplin County, NC
Transport: $1,174 higher in Duplin County, NC
Wake County, NC→Duplin County, NC
Equivalent salary in Duplin County, NC
$35,505
-28.99% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Wake County, NC: $128,556
Median Income in Duplin County, NC: $68,214
Living Index in Wake County, NC 49.99%
Living Index in Duplin County, NC 66.90%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Wake County, NC to Duplin 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 Duplin County, NC is estimated to save $18,631 per year. A $50,000 salary in Wake County, NC would have similar purchasing power to about $35,505 in Duplin County, NC. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -28.99% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $10,499 per year lower (-54.21%); Taxes is $5,518 per year lower (-38.35%).
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 Duplin 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 66.9% in Duplin County, NC. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $10,499 per year lower in Duplin 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 Duplin County, NC changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $889 per year lower in Duplin County, NC than in Wake County, NC. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Duplin County, NC can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,174 per year higher in Duplin 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 Duplin County, NC.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $635 per year higher in Duplin County, NC than in Wake County, NC. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Duplin County, NC changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,535 per year lower in Duplin County, NC than in Wake County, NC. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Duplin 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 Duplin County, NC, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Duplin County, NC, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $5,518 per year lower in Duplin County, NC than in Wake County, NC. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Duplin 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 Duplin County, NC.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Duplin County, NC
Annual Increase:
$1,174 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Duplin County, NC.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Duplin County, NC
Annual Savings:
$10,499 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Duplin County, NC.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -54% lower | |
| Food | -19% lower | |
| Transport | 9% higher | |
| Healthcare | 12% higher | |
| Other Costs | -47% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -38% lower |
In Duplin County, NC, modeled annual costs are $45,638 compared with $64,269 in Wake County, NC.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Duplin County, NC. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Duplin County, NC is not a metropolitan location, while Wake County, NC is a metropolitan location.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
