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Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

Cost of living in Union County, NC

Part of the Charlotte Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,799/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 244,975 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,647 43%
Federal tax $606 16%
Healthcare $480 13%
Groceries $327 9%
Transport $320 8%
Energy $187 5%
State tax $177 5%
Water $55 1%

Rent in Union County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$1,586
per month
1 bedroom
$1,647
per month
2 bedroom
$1,824
per month
3 bedroom
$2,250
per month
4 bedroom
$2,852
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Union County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$99,243
per year
Individual earnings
$47,094
per year
Per capita
$45,355
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Union County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$374,400
Annual property tax
$2,298

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Union County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$147
per month · 14¢/kWh
Natural gas
$40
per month
Annual total
$2,244
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Union County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
7.9%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Union County

State and local tax rates for North Carolina.

State income tax
4.5%
Flat rate
State sales tax
4.8%
Combined sales tax
7.0%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Union County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
29.7 min
Drive alone
70.8%
Public transit
0.2%
Work from home
18.0%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Union County

What it costs to live in Union County each month.

Single person
$3,799
per month
  • Rent $1,647
  • Energy $187
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $327
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $606
  • State tax $177
Couple
$5,605
per month
  • Rent $1,824
  • Energy $224
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $542
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $1,294
  • State tax $372
Family
$8,163
per month
  • Rent $2,250
  • Energy $280
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $822
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $1,294
  • State tax $372

Frequently asked questions about Union County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Union County?

In Union County, NC, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,647 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,824 per month, a three-bedroom averages $2,250 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Union County?

In Union County, NC, the average household income is $99,243 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $47,094 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Union County?

The estimated cost of living in Union County, NC is approximately $3,799 per month for a single person, $5,605 for a couple, $8,163 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Union County?

The combined sales tax rate in Union County, NC is 7.00%, which includes the North Carolina state rate of 4.75% plus an average local rate of 2.25%.

Is Union County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Union County, NC would need approximately $3,799 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $99,243 per year ($8,270 per month). Union County is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Union County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Union County, NC is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 7.9% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Union County?

The average home value in Union County, NC is $374,400, with average annual property taxes of $2,298, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Union County compare to other areas?

You can compare Union County, NC with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Union County is in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area.

Other counties in North Carolina

Browse the full list of counties in North Carolina, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in North Carolina

Compare Union County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources