CostIndexUSA

Charlotte, NC vs Gainesville, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Charlotte
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableFL
Gainesville
96.7
overall index
$1,650/mo rent

Gainesville is slightly cheaper than Charlotte — 0.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlotte, you would need $79,500 in Gainesville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing4.7%
Charlotte
97.6
Gainesville
93
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Charlotte
96.6
Gainesville
96.2
🚗 Transportation+0.7%
Charlotte
103.1
Gainesville
103.8
🏥 Healthcare+0.6%
Charlotte
93.3
Gainesville
93.9
Utilities1.1%
Charlotte
89.2
Gainesville
88.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Gainesville, FL
$79,500
$500 less needed in Gainesville

Formula: salary × (96.7 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 0.9938. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charlotte, NC

Median Home Price
$380,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
97.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Gainesville, FL

Median Home Price
$294,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
93
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Charlotte has 4.7% lower housing costs compared to Gainesville.

Income & Job Market

Charlotte, NC

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
879,709
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyEnergy

Gainesville, FL

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
140,003
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentResearch

Affordability at a Glance

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

Charlotte, NC
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Gainesville, FL
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.