Bessemer City, NC vs Manteo, NC

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Bessemer City is 25.2% cheaper than Manteo. With a cost index of 77 vs 103, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Bessemer City to Manteo should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Bessemer City is $942/month compared to $1,261/month in Manteo — a 25% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Bessemer City is more affordable at $173,000 median vs $384,100.

Median household income in Bessemer City is $48,784 compared to $78,594 in Manteo (-37.9%). While Manteo is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bessemer City spend roughly 23.2% of their income on rent, more than the 19.3% in Manteo.