| Index | Highlands | North Carolina | National |
| Cost of living | 145 | 94 | 100 |
| Goods & Services | 102 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Health care | 100 | 108 | 100 |
| Housing | 254 | 85 | 100 |
| Transportation | 90 | 92 | 100 |
| Utilities | 92 | 94 | 100 |
| Cost of living index | |
| Goods & Services index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $82,381 | $6,865 | $1,922 | $2,472 |
| Renters | $25,852 | $2,154 | $603 | $776 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| North Carolina | 4.75% | 7.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| North Carolina | 4.75% | 4.75% |
| Item | Highlands | National avg. | Difference |
| Haircut | $25.74 | $24.26 | 6.1% |
| Beauty Salon | $51.07 | $45.56 | 12.1% |
| Toothpaste | $3.61 | $3.70 | 2.4% |
| Shampoo | $1.37 | $1.28 | 7.2% |
| Movie | $14.47 | $12.13 | 19.3% |
| Bowling | $18.39 | $18.00 | 2.2% |
| Item | Highlands | National avg. | Difference |
| Ground Beef | $6.24 | $5.84 | 6.8% |
| Fried Chicken | $1.50 | $1.57 | 4.6% |
| Milk | $4.56 | $4.67 | 2.4% |
| Potatoes | $5.31 | $4.93 | 7.6% |
| Pizza | $11.78 | $12.09 | 2.5% |
| Beer | $10.45 | $10.41 | 0.4% |
| Item | Highlands | National avg. | Difference |
| Optometrist | $120.21 | $125.68 | 4.4% |
| Doctor | $123.75 | $135.78 | 8.9% |
| Dentist | $114.80 | $113.29 | 1.3% |
| Ibuprofen | $10.43 | $10.65 | 2.1% |
| Lipitor | $534.74 | $468.60 | 14.1% |
| Item | Highlands | National avg. | Difference |
| Home Price | $590,100.00 | $184,700.00 | 219.5% |
| Avg. Mortgage Payment | $1,581.44 | $2,346.69 | 32.6% |
| Apartment Rent | $965.00 | $949.00 | 1.7% |
| Item | Highlands | National avg. | Difference |
| Gasoline | $3.07 | $3.46 | 11.2% |
| Tire Balancing | $56.50 | $59.92 | 5.7% |
| Item | Highlands | National avg. | Difference |
| All Electricity | $170.53 | $193.99 | 12.1% |
| Phone | $189.75 | $192.25 | 1.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Clayton, GA | 1,837 | 87 | 12.8% |
| Mountain City, GA | 1,068 | 89 | 11.1% |
| Salem, SC | 175 | 91 | 8.8% |
| Franklin, NC | 4,030 | 95 | 5.1% |
| Dillard, GA | 328 | 94 | 5.9% |
| Highlands, NC | 1,061 | 145 | 44.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Bluewater, AZ | 1,061 | 85 | 14.6% |
| Claypool, AZ | 1,061 | 94 | 5.7% |
| South Pekin, IL | 1,061 | 83 | 17.1% |
| Marion Center, MA | 1,061 | 168 | 68.5% |
| Surrey, ND | 1,061 | 111 | 10.5% |
| Highlands, NC | 1,061 | 145 | 44.9% |
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