salaryRent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.2 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 17.8 minutes.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $33,920 a year. That is $16 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other North Carolina cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of North Carolina. It is number 12 of 164 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Mount Airy?
Share of households by yearly income. 14.1% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Mount Airy
| Size | Mount Airy | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $800 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $541 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $780 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $962 | $1,698 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Mount Airy overall?
Everyday prices in North Carolina overall are 6% below the U.S. average (index 94.3, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Mount Airy, so the North Carolina figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Mount Airy
Life in Mount Airy
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Mount Airy?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $414 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $181,900 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $18,190 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Mount Airy, NC?
Renting in Mount Airy costs a median of about $848 a month in 2026, including utilities. The North Carolina median is $1,496.
How much do I need to make to live in Mount Airy?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $33,920 a year, or $16 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Mount Airy cheap or expensive?
Mount Airy is rated OK: rent takes 23.4% of the typical household income of $43,437. It ranks 12th cheapest of 164 North Carolina cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Mount Airy?
The median homeowner in Mount Airy pays $1,379 a year in property taxes, about 0.76% of the median home value.
Is Mount Airy 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 Mount Airy?
The median home value in Mount Airy is $181,900, about 4.2 times the typical yearly household income.
10,633 people live in Mount Airy. Numbers are typical (middle) values.