CostIndexUSA

Cary, NC vs Prescott, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostNC
Cary
98.2
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
AZ
Prescott
98.3
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Cary and Prescott have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing4.5%
Cary
103.5
Prescott
98.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Cary
96.6
Prescott
96.2
🚗 Transportation+1.6%
Cary
103.1
Prescott
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+1.6%
Cary
93.3
Prescott
94.8
Utilities+2.8%
Cary
89
Prescott
91.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Prescott, AZ
$80,100
$100 more needed in Prescott

Formula: salary × (98.3 ÷ 98.2) = salary × 1.0010. 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×

Prescott, AZ

Median Home Price
$405,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
98.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.9×

Cary has 4.5% lower housing costs compared to Prescott.

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

Prescott, AZ

Median Household Income
$67,200
Per Capita Income
$38,300
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
45,827
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismRetailGovernmentReal Estate

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)

Prescott, AZ
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.