Carrboro, NC vs Oak Island, NC

Oak Island is moderately more affordable than Carrboro, with a 12.3% lower cost of living index. Carrboro scores 116 compared to 103 for Oak Island, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Carrboro can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Carrboro is $1,337/month compared to $1,208/month in Oak Island — a 11% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Oak Island is more affordable at $407,400 median vs $507,100.

Median household income in Carrboro is $85,927 compared to $83,483 in Oak Island (+2.9%). Carrboro does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Carrboro spend roughly 18.7% of their income on rent, more than the 17.4% in Oak Island.