States › North Carolina › Kannapolis

Is Kannapolis, NC expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 27 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,8194% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$79,632about $6,636/month · 9% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$276,40017% lower than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 59% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.5 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $72,760 a year. That is $35 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 116 of 164 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Kannapolis
$1,819
Burlington
$1,484
Chapel Hill
$1,900
Rocky Mount
$1,065
Wake Forest
$2,001
Huntersville
$1,934
Mooresville
$1,926

How much do households earn in Kannapolis?

Under $25k
11.6%
$25k–50k
24.4%
$50k–100k
37.3%
$100k–150k
14.0%
$150k+
7.9%

Share of households by yearly income. 21.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Kannapolis

SizeKannapolisU.S. average
Studio$1,358$1,338
1 bedroom$1,257$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,293$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,593$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,160$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Kannapolis 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 Kannapolis, so the North Carolina figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Kannapolis

🏛️ Property tax$2,407a year · 0.87% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$139a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Kannapolis

Commute to work26.2 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree29.7%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home65.6%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line12.6%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4.1%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Kannapolis?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $99 a month less.

Renting
$1,819
Owning
$1,918

Owning assumes a typical $276,400 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $27,640 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Kannapolis, NC?

Renting in Kannapolis costs a median of about $1,819 a month in 2026, including utilities. The North Carolina median is $1,496.

How much do I need to make to live in Kannapolis?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $72,760 a year, or $35 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Kannapolis cheap or expensive?

Kannapolis is rated OK: rent takes 27.4% of the typical household income of $79,632. It ranks 116th cheapest of 164 North Carolina cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Kannapolis?

The median homeowner in Kannapolis pays $2,407 a year in property taxes, about 0.87% of the median home value.

Is Kannapolis 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 Kannapolis?

The median home value in Kannapolis is $276,400, about 3.5 times the typical yearly household income.

57,890 people live in Kannapolis. Numbers are typical (middle) values.