St. James, NC vs Swepsonville, NC

The cost of living difference between St. James, NC and Swepsonville, NC is dramatic. Swepsonville is 76.3% cheaper than St. James, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. St. James has a cost index of 151 while Swepsonville sits at 86, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in St. James is $2,258/month compared to $988/month in Swepsonville — a 129% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Swepsonville is more affordable at $282,500 median vs $599,300.

Median household income in St. James is $113,670 compared to $94,028 in Swepsonville (+20.9%). St. James 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 St. James spend roughly 23.8% of their income on rent, more than the 12.6% in Swepsonville.