City Comparison

Concord vs Ithaca

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Concord

North Carolina
96
Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,350/mo
Median Rent
$86,900
Median Income

Ithaca

New York
94
Below Average
$324,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$48,600
Median Income

The Verdict

2.1%

Ithaca is 2.1% less expensive than Concord overall. A household earning $75,000 in Concord would need approximately $73,438 in Ithaca to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
89
Concord
117
Ithaca
Groceries
97
Concord
103
Ithaca
Utilities
97
Concord
102
Ithaca
Transportation
92
Concord
96
Ithaca
Healthcare
104
Concord
99
Ithaca

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Concord has the same purchasing power as $73,438 in Ithaca.

Conversely, $75,000 in Ithaca equals $76,596 in Concord.

Living in Concord vs Ithaca

Housing Costs

Concord's housing index of 89 is lower Ithaca's 117, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $324,000. The $56,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,636 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Concord compared to $1,475/mo in Ithaca, a monthly difference of $125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Concord and 103 in Ithaca. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Concord vs $489/month in Ithaca. Concord offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Concord and 102 in Ithaca. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Concord vs $408 in Ithaca. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Concord and 99 in Ithaca. 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 $86,900 in Concord and $48,600 in Ithaca. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $90,521 and $51,702 respectively. Concord residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,028/month to housing in Concord vs $1,134/month in Ithaca. In Concord, median rent of $1,350/mo fits within this budget. In Ithaca, median rent of $1,475/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 28 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ithaca is 2.1% more affordable overall with an index of 94 vs 96.
A $75,000 salary in Concord has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $73,438 in Ithaca, based on the cost of living difference.
Concord's housing index is 89 with median homes at $380,000, while Ithaca's is 117 with median homes at $324,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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