Overall
88.0
-12.0 below avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Rocky Mount, NC
Cost-of-living indicators for Rocky Mount, NC, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 88.0
- Overall RPP
- #336
- of 387 metros
- 56.1
- Rents RPP
- $114K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Rocky Mount costs less than 87% of U.S. metros — an overall index of 88.0, 12.0% below the national average, with rents the biggest swing at 56.1.
- 88.0
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #336
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- bottom 13%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 56.1
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $113,621 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $88,012.
What the Numbers Mean for Rocky Mount
Rocky Mount ranks #336 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the bottom quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 88.0, Rocky Mount, NC is 12.0% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Rocky Mount's most and least expensive categories — the priciest line item versus rents at 56.1 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $113,621 inside Rocky Mount, while a household needs roughly $88,012 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 56.1 — 43.9% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Rocky Mount's overall index has stayed within 0.7 points, holding steady versus other U.S. metros. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 96.6 and services at 88.4, meaning everyday spending in Rocky Mount is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Rocky Mount vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
88 Top 87% higher than 13% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Rocky Mount cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
56.1 RPP
- Services
Services
88.4 RPP
- Overall
Overall
88 RPP
- Goods
Goods
96.6 RPP
What this shows Rocky Mount's gap from the national average is led by rents at 56.1. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Rocky Mount's cost comes from
Metros near Rocky Mount's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 96.3, rents 60.8). Rocky Mount is more goods-led than its peers — its everyday goods cost more relative to housing. These metros sit near Rocky Mount's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
96.6
-3.4 below avg
Services
88.4
-11.6 below avg
Rents
56.1
-43.9 below avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$88,012
in Rocky Mount, NC purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$44,006
$75,000 nationally
$66,009
$125,000 nationally
$110,015
$150,000 nationally
$132,018
$200,000 nationally
$176,024
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has remained relatively stable, changing by only 0.7 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 88.7 |
| 2009 | 88.5 |
| 2010 | 89.7 |
| 2011 | 91.2 |
| 2012 | 89.1 |
| 2013 | 89.9 |
| 2014 | 89.1 |
| 2015 | 90.7 |
| 2016 | 87.8 |
| 2017 | 89.9 |
| 2018 | 86.2 |
| 2019 | 84.0 |
| 2020 | 83.8 |
| 2021 | 87.6 |
| 2022 | 87.4 |
| 2023 | 88.3 |
| 2024 | 88.0 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Rocky Mount, NC's index of 88.0.
Other NC Metros
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Rocky Mount, NC? ▼
Rocky Mount, NC has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 88.0, meaning it is 12.0% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 96.6, services at 88.4, and rents at 56.1. It ranks #336 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Rocky Mount, NC to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $88,012 in Rocky Mount, NC. Conversely, $100K earned in Rocky Mount, NC has the purchasing power of $113,621 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Rocky Mount, NC? ▼
Rents in Rocky Mount, NC are indexed at 56.1, which is 43.9% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Rocky Mount, NC getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Rocky Mount, NC's overall cost index changed by -0.7 points (from 88.7 to 88.0). The cost of living has remained relatively stable.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Rocky Mount, NC? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Sumter, Jefferson City, Cleveland. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Rocky Mount, NC's 88.0.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
