Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Wake County, NC would need to be about $37,410 in Onslow County, NC, or $12,590 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Wake County, NC vs Onslow County, NC: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Onslow County, NC is cheaper than Wake County, NC.
Moving to Onslow County, NC is estimated to save $16,184 per year.
Cheaper County
Onslow County, NCSave about $16,184 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Wake County, NC is about $37,410 in Onslow County, NC.
Biggest drivers
Healthcare increases by $813 per year. Housing saves $8,819 per year.
Housing: $8,819 lower in Onslow County, NC
Taxes: $4,906 lower in Onslow County, NC
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $813 higher in Onslow County, NC
Food: $577 lower in Onslow County, NC
Transport: $223 higher in Onslow County, NC
Wake County, NC→Onslow County, NC
Equivalent salary in Onslow County, NC
$37,410
-25.18% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Wake County, NC: $128,556
Median Income in Onslow County, NC: $72,330
Living Index in Wake County, NC 49.99%
Living Index in Onslow County, NC 66.48%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Wake County, NC to Onslow 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 Onslow County, NC is estimated to save $16,184 per year. A $50,000 salary in Wake County, NC would have similar purchasing power to about $37,410 in Onslow County, NC. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -25.18% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $8,819 per year lower (-45.54%); Taxes is $4,906 per year lower (-34.1%).
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 Onslow 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 66.5% in Onslow County, NC. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $8,819 per year lower in Onslow 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 Onslow County, NC changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $577 per year lower in Onslow County, NC than in Wake County, NC. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Onslow County, NC can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $223 per year higher in Onslow 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 Onslow County, NC.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $813 per year higher in Onslow County, NC than in Wake County, NC. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Onslow County, NC changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $2,917 per year lower in Onslow County, NC than in Wake County, NC. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Onslow 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 Onslow County, NC, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Onslow County, NC, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $4,906 per year lower in Onslow County, NC than in Wake County, NC. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Onslow 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 Onslow County, NC.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Onslow County, NC
Annual Increase:
$813 per year
HEALTHCARE has the largest annual increase when moving to Onslow County, NC.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Onslow County, NC
Annual Savings:
$8,819 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Onslow County, NC.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -46% lower | |
| Food | -12% lower | |
| Transport | 2% higher | |
| Healthcare | 15% higher | |
| Other Costs | -39% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -34% lower |
In Onslow County, NC, modeled annual costs are $48,085 compared with $64,269 in Wake County, NC.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Onslow County, NC. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Onslow County, NC and Wake County, NC are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
