Cost of Living in Leland
Leland's cost of living runs close to the national average -- not a discount market the way New Bern or Burlington read elsewhere in this NC batch -- driven mainly by housing and insurance costs that trend at or above state averages.
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Learn moreA cost of living close to the national average, not a bargain
BestPlaces.net puts Leland's cost-of-living index at 101.4 -- 1.4% above the U.S. average -- a genuinely different profile than New Bern (16.4% below average) or Burlington (roughly 6-22% below average, depending on source) elsewhere in this NC Tier B batch. Leland is not a discount alternative to Wilmington; it trends close to the national baseline.
Housing costs are the main driver
Leland's $413,000 citywide median home sale price (Redfin, December 2025) runs close to the roughly $400K+ U.S. national median cited elsewhere in this dataset -- a real contrast to the more clearly affordable NC Tier B markets in this batch (base record).
Homeowners insurance trends at or above the NC state average
Homeowners insurance estimates for Leland cluster around $2,595-$3,956/year depending on source and zip code, versus a roughly $2,874/year North Carolina statewide average cited in the same source family -- consistent with real, if moderate, coastal-adjacent risk (base record).
Strong household income offsets some of the higher cost profile
Leland's median household income ($91,977) and low poverty rate (6.09%) both run favorably relative to several other NC Tier B markets in this dataset, which helps offset the closer-to-national cost of living for many households (base record).
Key takeaways
- BestPlaces.net cost-of-living index: 101.4 (1.4% above the U.S. average) -- close to the national baseline, not a discount market.
- Housing ($413,000 median sale price) is the main cost driver, running close to the U.S. national median rather than at a discount.
- Homeowners insurance ($2,595-$3,956/year depending on source) trends at or above the North Carolina state average.
- Strong median household income ($91,977) and a low poverty rate (6.09%) help offset the closer-to-national cost profile for many households.
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