Gastonia, NC vs Matthews, NC

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Gastonia is 24.4% cheaper than Matthews. With a cost index of 89 vs 118, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Gastonia to Matthews should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Gastonia is $1,145/month compared to $1,670/month in Matthews — a 31% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Gastonia is more affordable at $250,000 median vs $406,800.

Median household income in Gastonia is $60,554 compared to $105,579 in Matthews (-42.6%). While Matthews is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Gastonia spend roughly 22.7% of their income on rent, more than the 19% in Matthews.