Cost of Living in Matthews
Matthews runs modestly above the national average on cost of living -- a BestPlaces index of 102.5 -- driven mainly by housing, and it's a real step up from the North Carolina state average specifically, not just the national one.
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Learn moreA modest premium over the national average, a bigger one over the state
BestPlaces gives Matthews a cost-of-living score of 102.5, meaning total costs across housing, food, childcare, transportation, healthcare, and taxes run 2.5% above the U.S. average and 12.6% above the North Carolina average (BestPlaces, retrieved 2026-08-22). The state-average comparison is the more telling number for anyone comparing Matthews against other North Carolina towns in this dataset rather than against the nation as a whole.
Housing is the dominant driver, consistent with the base record
The base record's housing figures ($481K-$485K median sale price, itself down 4.9%-5.7% year over year as of the most recent data pulled) are consistent with Matthews sitting mid-pack among this dataset's Charlotte-area satellites -- more expensive than Concord or Gastonia, less than Huntersville. That mid-pack housing cost is the main lever behind the 102.5 cost-of-living score.
North Carolina's 2026 flat income tax applies statewide
North Carolina's state income tax dropped to a flat 3.99% as of January 1, 2026 (down from 4.25% the prior year), with additional scheduled cuts through 2028 contingent on the state hitting specific revenue benchmarks (Tax Foundation/Kiplinger, retrieved 2026-08-22). This applies identically in Matthews as anywhere else in the state -- it's not a Matthews-specific advantage, but it is a real, current data point for anyone comparing North Carolina against a higher-income-tax state.
Key takeaways
- Matthews' BestPlaces cost-of-living index is 102.5 -- 2.5% above the national average, but a more notable 12.6% above the North Carolina state average.
- Housing is the dominant cost driver, consistent with the base record's mid-pack ($481K-$485K) housing figure among this dataset's Charlotte-area satellites.
- North Carolina's flat state income tax dropped to 3.99% on January 1, 2026, with further scheduled cuts through 2028 contingent on state revenue -- applies statewide, not specific to Matthews.
- No Matthews-specific grocery, utility, or transportation index beyond the blended BestPlaces score was independently broken out this session.
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