CostIndexUSA

Cary, NC vs Pensacola, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostNC
Cary
98.2
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
FL
Pensacola
97.7
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Cary and Pensacola have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing4.5%
Cary
103.5
Pensacola
98.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Cary
96.6
Pensacola
96.2
🚗 Transportation+0.7%
Cary
103.1
Pensacola
103.8
🏥 Healthcare+0.6%
Cary
93.3
Pensacola
93.9
Utilities0.6%
Cary
89
Pensacola
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Cary to see what you'd need to earn in Pensacola to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Pensacola, FL
$79,600
$400 less needed in Pensacola

Formula: salary × (97.7 ÷ 98.2) = salary × 0.9949. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cary, NC

Median Home Price
$428,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
103.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.6×

Pensacola, FL

Median Home Price
$300,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
98.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.7×

Cary has 4.5% lower housing costs compared to Pensacola.

Income & Job Market

Cary, NC

Median Household Income
$96,100
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
174,721
Top Industries
TechnologyFinanceHealthcareEducationResearch

Pensacola, FL

Median Household Income
$78,300
Per Capita Income
$44,600
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
53,831
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareTourismManufacturingRetail

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Cary, NC
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Pensacola, FL
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.