Goldsboro, North Carolina
Living in Goldsboro, North Carolina is about 5% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 95 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,519 a month, 21% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.23 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 43% of the area's $66,186 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.23
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,519
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$13.49
Combo meal
Electricity
14.95¢
per kWh · ~$135/mo
Car Insurance
$116/mo
$1,392/yr
Median Household Income
$66,186
43.3% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $1,392 in Goldsboro. Compare rates:
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Avg rent $1,519/mo in Goldsboro. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
$2.29 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026)
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
$3.39 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026)
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
$5.99 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026)
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
$4.49 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026)
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
$4.99 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026)
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
$5.99 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026)
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
$7.99 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026)
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
$6.98 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026)
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
$1.25 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026)
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
$3.75 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026)
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
$10.99 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026)
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.42 estimate
$6.76 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026)
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
$4.99 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026)
Apples (3 lb)
$5.20 estimate
$5.99 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026)
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
$3.49 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026)
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.76 estimate
$3.99 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026)
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.94 estimate
$5.00 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026)
Cereal (family size)
$6.20 estimate
Frozen Pizza
$8.65 estimate
$6.49 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026)
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility$2.29 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026) | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon)$3.39 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb)$5.99 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf)$4.49 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb)$4.99 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb)$5.99 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb)$7.99 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb)$6.98 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb)$1.25 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb)$3.75 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz)$10.99 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate$6.76 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $3.72 | $5.42 | +45.7% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb)$4.99 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate$5.99 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.49 | $5.20 | +15.8% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb)$3.49 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate$3.99 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $5.54 | $7.76 | +40.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate$5.00 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.15 | $4.94 | +19.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.79 | $6.20 | +29.4% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate$6.49 @ Harris Teeter - Memorial Commons (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $6.31 | $8.65 | +37.1% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$13.49
Casual Dining
$24.93
Monthly Spend
$441.46
+5.41% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $8.36
$13.49
+61.4%Wendy's
2022: $9.44
$14.57
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $10.12
$15.11
+49.3%Starbucks
2022: $4.58
$6.36
+38.9%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Goldsboro?
Average 1BR: $1,246/mo · 2BR: $1,792/mo
Goldsboro Cost of Living FAQ
Is Goldsboro, NC expensive to live in?
Goldsboro has a cost of living index of 95, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 5% cheaper than average. It is the 7th most expensive of the 22 North Carolina cities we track.
What is the average rent in Goldsboro, NC?
Typical rent in Goldsboro is $1,519 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 21% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,246 and two bedrooms about $1,792. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Goldsboro?
Rent in Goldsboro rose 3.1% over the past year, faster than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Goldsboro?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.23 a gallon in Goldsboro as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for North Carolina. That is 19% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Goldsboro?
Homes in North Carolina pay an average of 14.9 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Goldsboro is about $135.
How much is car insurance in Goldsboro?
Full coverage car insurance averages $1,392 a year in North Carolina, or about $116 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Goldsboro?
Median household income in the Goldsboro area is $66,186 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $28,678 a year, or 43% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,502 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Goldsboro compare with the rest of North Carolina?
Rent in Goldsboro is about the same as the $1,524 average across the 22 North Carolina cities we track, and its cost of living index of 95 compares with a state average of 95.
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