Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Wake County, NC would need to be about $34,955 in Martin County, NC, or $15,045 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Wake County, NC vs Martin County, NC: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Martin County, NC is cheaper than Wake County, NC.
Moving to Martin County, NC is estimated to save $19,339 per year.
Cheaper County
Martin County, NCSave about $19,339 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Wake County, NC is about $34,955 in Martin County, NC.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $1,377 per year. Housing saves $10,919 per year.
Housing: $10,919 lower in Martin County, NC
Taxes: $5,694 lower in Martin County, NC
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $1,377 higher in Martin County, NC
Food: $958 lower in Martin County, NC
Transport: $542 higher in Martin County, NC
Wake County, NC→Martin County, NC
Equivalent salary in Martin County, NC
$34,955
-30.09% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Wake County, NC: $128,556
Median Income in Martin County, NC: $64,044
Living Index in Wake County, NC 49.99%
Living Index in Martin County, NC 70.15%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Wake County, NC to Martin 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 Martin County, NC is estimated to save $19,339 per year. A $50,000 salary in Wake County, NC would have similar purchasing power to about $34,955 in Martin County, NC. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -30.09% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $10,919 per year lower (-56.38%); Taxes is $5,694 per year lower (-39.58%).
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 Martin 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 70.2% in Martin County, NC. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $10,919 per year lower in Martin 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 Martin County, NC changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $958 per year lower in Martin County, NC than in Wake County, NC. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Martin County, NC can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $542 per year higher in Martin 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 Martin County, NC.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $1,377 per year higher in Martin County, NC than in Wake County, NC. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Martin County, NC changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,687 per year lower in Martin County, NC than in Wake County, NC. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Martin 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 Martin County, NC, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Martin County, NC, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $5,694 per year lower in Martin County, NC than in Wake County, NC. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Martin 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 Martin County, NC.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Martin County, NC
Annual Increase:
$1,377 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Martin County, NC.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Martin County, NC
Annual Savings:
$10,919 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Martin County, NC.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -56% lower | |
| Food | -20% lower | |
| Transport | 4% higher | |
| Healthcare | 25% higher | |
| Other Costs | -49% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -40% lower |
In Martin County, NC, modeled annual costs are $44,930 compared with $64,269 in Wake County, NC.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Martin County, NC. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Martin 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.
