Murphy, NC vs Oak City, NC

Murphy is moderately more affordable than Oak City, with a 10.3% lower cost of living index. Murphy scores 62 compared to 69 for Oak City, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Oak City can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Murphy is $354/month compared to $950/month in Oak City — a 63% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Murphy has cheaper rent, Oak City actually has lower median home values ($87,400 vs $221,100).

Median household income in Murphy is $36,989 compared to $60,739 in Oak City (-39.1%). While Oak City is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Murphy spend roughly 11.5% of their income on rent, less than the 18.8% in Oak City.