Burlington, NC vs Monroe, NC

Burlington is moderately more affordable than Monroe, with a 14.9% lower cost of living index. Burlington scores 79 compared to 93 for Monroe, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Monroe can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Burlington is $1,030/month compared to $1,216/month in Monroe — a 15% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Burlington is more affordable at $188,700 median vs $270,600.

Median household income in Burlington is $54,941 compared to $67,265 in Monroe (-18.3%). While Monroe is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Burlington spend roughly 22.5% of their income on rent, more than the 21.7% in Monroe.