States › North Carolina › Carolina Shores

Is Carolina Shores, NC expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 30 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$2,07618% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$82,060about $6,838/month · 6% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$288,60013% lower than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 72% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.5 years of household income. Most homes (94.7%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $83,040 a year. That is $40 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of North Carolina. It is number 143 of 164 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Carolina Shores
$2,076
Long View
$1,210
Sawmills
$768
Pleasant Garden
$1,490
Williamston
$720
Ayden
$819
Archer Lodge
$1,534

How much do households earn in Carolina Shores?

Under $25k
8.8%
$25k–50k
24.2%
$50k–100k
43.9%
$100k–150k
13.5%
$150k+
4.8%

Share of households by yearly income. 18.3% of households earn $100,000 or more.

How expensive is Carolina Shores overall?

Everyday prices in North Carolina overall are 6% below the U.S. average (index 94.3, U.S. = 100).

Housing
81
Goods (food, clothes…)
97
Utilities
89
Other services
98
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Carolina Shores, so the North Carolina figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Carolina Shores

🏛️ Property tax$1,364a year · 0.47% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$174a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Carolina Shores

Commute to work22.2 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree27.6%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home94.7%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line3.9%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment3.9%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Carolina Shores?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $74 a month less than renting.

Renting
$2,076
Owning
$2,002

Owning assumes a typical $288,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $28,860 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Carolina Shores, NC?

Renting in Carolina Shores costs a median of about $2,076 a month in 2026, including utilities. The North Carolina median is $1,496.

How much do I need to make to live in Carolina Shores?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $83,040 a year, or $40 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Carolina Shores cheap or expensive?

Carolina Shores is rated Expensive: rent takes 30.4% of the typical household income of $82,060. It ranks 143rd cheapest of 164 North Carolina cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Carolina Shores?

The median homeowner in Carolina Shores pays $1,364 a year in property taxes, about 0.47% of the median home value.

Is Carolina Shores more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in North Carolina are 6% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Carolina Shores?

The median home value in Carolina Shores is $288,600, about 3.5 times the typical yearly household income.

5,017 people live in Carolina Shores. Numbers are typical (middle) values.