City Comparison

Beaumont vs Cary

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

Cary

North Carolina
106
Above Average
$500,000
Median Home
$1,850/mo
Median Rent
$117,400
Median Income

The Verdict

26.4%

Beaumont is 26.4% less expensive than Cary overall. A household earning $75,000 in Beaumont would need approximately $101,923 in Cary to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
81
Beaumont
152
Cary
Groceries
96
Beaumont
101
Cary
Utilities
102
Beaumont
97
Cary
Transportation
93
Beaumont
89
Cary
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
113
Cary

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $101,923 in Cary.

Conversely, $75,000 in Cary equals $55,189 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Cary

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is lower Cary's 152, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $500,000. The $334,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,708 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,850/mo in Cary, a monthly difference of $850.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 101 in Cary. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont 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 Beaumont and 97 in Cary. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $388 in Cary. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 113 in Cary. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $57,000 in Beaumont and $117,400 in Cary. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 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 $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $2,739/month in Cary. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/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 71 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 26.4% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $101,923 in Cary, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Cary's is 152 with median homes at $500,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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