Oak Island, NC vs Southern Shores, NC

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Oak Island is 28.7% cheaper than Southern Shores. With a cost index of 103 vs 145, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Oak Island to Southern Shores should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Oak Island is $1,208/month compared to $2,018/month in Southern Shores — a 40% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Oak Island is more affordable at $407,400 median vs $621,100.

Median household income in Oak Island is $83,483 compared to $116,859 in Southern Shores (-28.6%). The higher salaries in Southern Shores partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Oak Island spend roughly 17.4% of their income on rent, less than the 20.7% in Southern Shores.