Charlotte vs Medford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Charlotte
Medford
The Verdict
Charlotte is 5.7% less expensive than Medford overall. A household earning $75,000 in Charlotte would need approximately $79,500 in Medford 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 Charlotte has the same purchasing power as $79,500 in Medford.
Conversely, $75,000 in Medford equals $70,755 in Charlotte.
Living in Charlotte vs Medford
Housing Costs
Charlotte's housing index of 99 is lower Medford's 139, translating to median home prices of $330,000 vs $406,000. The $76,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,944 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Charlotte compared to $1,375/mo in Medford, a monthly difference of $125.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Charlotte and 108 in Medford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Charlotte vs $513/month in Medford. Charlotte offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Charlotte and 97 in Medford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Charlotte vs $388 in Medford. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 105 in Charlotte and 100 in Medford. 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 $62,308 in Charlotte and $73,200 in Medford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $62,308 and $69,057 respectively. Medford residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,454/month to housing in Charlotte vs $1,708/month in Medford. In Charlotte, median rent of $1,500/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Medford, median rent of $1,375/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 40 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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