City Comparison

Concord vs Orem

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Concord

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

Orem

Utah
117
Above Average
$528,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$86,000
Median Income

The Verdict

17.9%

Concord is 17.9% less expensive than Orem overall. A household earning $75,000 in Concord would need approximately $91,406 in Orem to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
89
Concord
147
Orem
Groceries
97
Concord
98
Orem
Utilities
97
Concord
92
Orem
Transportation
92
Concord
108
Orem
Healthcare
104
Concord
95
Orem

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Concord has the same purchasing power as $91,406 in Orem.

Conversely, $75,000 in Orem equals $61,538 in Concord.

Living in Concord vs Orem

Housing Costs

Concord's housing index of 89 is lower Orem's 147, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $528,000. The $148,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,624 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,350/mo in Concord compared to $1,400/mo in Orem, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Concord and 98 in Orem. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Concord vs $466/month in Orem. 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 97 in Concord and 92 in Orem. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Concord vs $368 in Orem. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Concord and 95 in Orem. 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 $86,900 in Concord and $86,000 in Orem. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $90,521 and $73,504 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 $2,007/month in Orem. In Concord, median rent of $1,350/mo fits within this budget. In Orem, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 58 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Concord is 17.9% more affordable overall with an index of 96 vs 117.
A $75,000 salary in Concord has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $91,406 in Orem, based on the cost of living difference.
Concord's housing index is 89 with median homes at $380,000, while Orem's is 147 with median homes at $528,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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