Arlington vs Cary
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Arlington
Cary
The Verdict
Cary is 54.7% less expensive than Arlington overall. A household earning $75,000 in Arlington would need approximately $48,476 in Cary to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Arlington has the same purchasing power as $48,476 in Cary.
Conversely, $75,000 in Cary equals $116,038 in Arlington.
Living in Arlington vs Cary
Housing Costs
Arlington's housing index of 249 is higher Cary's 152, translating to median home prices of $740,000 vs $500,000. The $240,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,600 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,350/mo in Arlington compared to $1,850/mo in Cary, a monthly difference of $500.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 106 in Arlington and 101 in Cary. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $504/month in Arlington vs $480/month in Cary. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Arlington and 97 in Cary. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Arlington vs $388 in Cary. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 117 in Arlington and 113 in Cary. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $145,000 in Arlington and $117,400 in Cary. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $88,415 and $110,755 respectively. Cary residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,383/month to housing in Arlington vs $2,739/month in Cary. In Arlington, median rent of $2,350/mo fits within this budget. In Cary, median rent of $1,850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 97 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases