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2 North Carolina Towns Among Money’s 50 Best Places To Live

Author Melanie Day

2 North Carolina towns are among the 50 best places to live. How many times have we told you this? Countless. And how many times is it a different place each time? The vast majority of the time. But these lists will continue being made and we will of course continue to tell you about them.

50 Best Places To Live

This time the list comes to us from Money. They say that this list “celebrates cities and towns where a thriving economy meets affordability, diversity, and an exceptional quality of life”. Backed by rigorous research and data-driven analysis, these 50 places are the blueprint for the future. The 50 cities on this list “offer affordability, good schools, and strong job markets”. They also are home to “engaged citizens” and “receptive public officials”.

So which two North Carolina towns made the list? One is a small mountain town and the other is a thriving center in a technology hub. We are talking about Brevard and Durham.

Brevard, NC

This mountain town is known as the “land of waterfalls”. Brevard is located about 30 minutes from Asheville, NC and is a haven for those who love the outdoors. And if you’ve seen their commercials it certainly looks like a fun place to be and to call home. The downtown is walkable and full of local businesses such as shops, restaurants, tap rooms, art, and more.

Durham, NC

A bustling city in the Triangle area of the state Durham offers all the amenities of city life but with a slightly more laid-back feel. You can catch a Durham Bulls baseball game downtown, sip on a beer at one of the numerous breweries, stroll the Duke University Gardens, or enjoy a show at the DPAC. My personal favorite part of Durham? Shopping at South Point Mall.

Of course, there are a lot of factors as to what makes somewhere the best place to live. And it is dependent on what is important to you as an individual. Luckily North Carolina is full of incredible places to live. And if the state isn’t for you? Well, you can check out the full 50 Best Places To Live list from Money here.

Here's How Much Money It Takes To Live Comfortably In The 5 Major North Carolina Cities

It’s hard to not be stressed or depressed about money these days. Prices have skyrocketed and I often joke that the value of everything seems to have gone up- except me. But goods and services don’t tell the entire pictures when it comes to cost of living. So how much money does it take to live comfortably in each of the major cities? A lot. The financial experts at Smart Asset recently conducted a study about the salary needed to live comfortably in cities across the country.

How Much Money It Takes To Live Comfortably

Smart Asset recommends a budget they describe as the 50/30/20 budge. This means that 50% of your salary should go to to needs. They include costs such as housing, transportation, and groceries in this category. The 30% is allocated to entertainment and hobbies. While the final 20% should be used to pay off debt, or if you’re lucky enough to be debt free saving or investing.

So to conduct this study they took the “local cost of necessities and taxes” and factored it into the 50/30/20 budget to determine the “pre-tax salary needed to live comfortably” in the 99 largest U.S. cities. They found that $96,500 is the amount needed for an individual to live comfortably in a major U.S. city. 5 North Carolina cities were included in this study. The five largest in the state- Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, and Winston-Salem. When it comes to the amount of money it takes to live comfortably in North Carolina cities, only two were less than average. I thought the south was supposed to be cheaper!

These days it truly feels like most people are living paycheck to paycheck or at least not able to save significant money. Even though when it comes to salary people are making higher than they have before that money doesn’t go near as far as it did even a few years ago. Keep reading to see how much money it takes to live comfortably in each of the 5 largest North Carolina cities. Don’t say I didn’t warn you though, it may sting a little!

Read the full study from Smart Asset here.

  • Winston- Salem

    Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA Downtown Skyline.

    According to this data the most affordable North Carolina major city to live in is Winston-Salem. This Triad city is the fifth most populous in the state. It features a vibrant downtown, historic sites including Old Salem, and lot’s of character and charm. It’s the home of Wake Forest University, and provides easy access to other areas of the state as well.

    Hourly Wage Needed For A Single Adult: $39.36

    Salary Needed For A Single Adult: $81,869

    Total Salary Needed For Two Working Adults And Two Children: $194,605

  • Greensboro

    Drone Aerial of Downtown Greensboro North Carolina NC Skyline

    Staying in the same area the next city on this list is Greensboro. It’s slightly more expensive than Winston and located in Guilford County. Greensboro is the third most populous city in the state.

    Hourly Wage Needed For A Single Adult: $41.88

    Salary Needed For A Single Adult: $87,110

    Total Salary Needed For Two Working Adults And Two Children: $203,674

  • Durham

    Durham, North Carolina, USA downtown cityscape.

    We now move to the Triangle. The third most expensive city to live in is Durham. The city offers lots of great jobs in tech and is home to Duke University. Downtown Durham has lots to offer from breweries and restaurants, to sports, arts, and entertainment.

    Hourly Wage Needed For A Single Adult: $47.62

    Salary Needed For A Single Adult: $99,050

    Total Salary Needed For Two Working Adults And Two Children: $233,043

  • Charlotte

    Charlotte Skyline

    No Charlotte doesn’t require the largest salary much to my surprise. The largest city in the state is the 2nd most expensive. And that hourly wage? I don’t know many people making that.

    Hourly Wage Needed For A Single Adult: $48.72

    Salary Needed For A Single Adult: $101,338

    Total Salary Needed For Two Working Adults And Two Children: $235,123

  • Raleigh

    A colorful daytime cityscape of downtown Raleigh North Carolina

    Which means the city where it takes the highest amount of money to live comfortably? The state capitol of Raleigh. Though it was a close race and fair to say the cost of living is fairly comparable between Charlotte and Raleigh. But hey if they want to win this one I’m ok with it since it impacts my bank account!

    Hourly Wage Needed For A Single Adult: $49.40

    Salary Needed For A Single Adult: $102,752

    Total Salary Needed For Two Working Adults And Two Children: $235,872

Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.

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