Matthews, North Carolina cost of living
Matthews housing and traveler costs need a full driving margin
The local estimate is $3,613 per month. Planning anchors include $1,653 for a typical one bedroom, $1,783 for a two bedroom, $460 groceries, $1,064 transportation, $436 healthcare, $247 utilities, and about $229 dining beside a source value of 74.6. The traveler estimate is $5,254, the couple estimate is $4,956, and the expat estimate is $3,225.
The property tax display is Low, with a 0.68 percent effective rate, $3,047 median taxes, and a $445,100 median home value. Compare the selected lease or parcel with insurance, repairs, heating, cooling, parking, transportation, and reserves.
Planning a monthly budget
A local monthly estimate of $3,613 gives you the starting point, with housing taking the largest share.
- Housing
- $1,653
- Utilities (in rent)
- $247
- Food
- $460/mo
- Transportation
- $1,064/mo
- Healthcare
- $436
Utilities are included in housing so they are not added twice. The separate Utilities row is a reference estimate.
How the total can change
A traveler style stay, a couple household, and long term rent answer different planning questions.
- Comfortable Living
- $5,254
- Cost of Living for Couple
- $4,956
- Typical 1BR Rent
- $1,653
Moderate
Good
Very Good
Everyday expenses
Dining, transportation, taxes, and car needs can change how the monthly budget feels.
- Dining Out
- $229/mo
- Need for a Car
- Required
- Property Taxes
- Low
- Overall Feel
- Moderate
- Residents 65+ Below Poverty Level
- 4.8%
- 65+ Householder — Renter Occupied
- 30.3%
- 65+ Households With High Housing Costs
- 37.6%
- Median Household Income, Householder 65+
- $71,581
Excellent
Good
Matthews in everyday life
Could Matthews work for you?
What may work well
- The $3,613 local estimate, $1,653 one bedroom, $1,783 two bedroom, and $4,956 couple estimate create clear starting anchors.
- The Low property tax display gives owners a useful comparison point when paired with the actual parcel bill, insurance, repairs, and reserves.
- The Required car label gives a direct prompt to price routes, maintenance, parking, weather, and backup rides.
What to think about
- The $1,653 one bedroom and $5,254 traveler estimate make housing and visitor budgets more demanding than the lowest cost city profiles.
- The $1,064 transportation estimate can grow with fuel, insurance, maintenance, parking, repairs, family trips, and longer care routes.
- Use Matthews figures as starting points, then replace them with the selected lease or parcel bill, coverage, upkeep, and household reserves.
Plan the Matthews budget around housing, care, taxes, and driving
Price the selected home
Compare the $1,653 one bedroom or $1,783 two bedroom anchor with the actual lease or purchase, utilities, parking, insurance, heating, cooling, maintenance, repairs, and reserves.
Write the Required car line
Start with $1,064 transportation, then add insurance, fuel, maintenance, parking, repairs, backup rides, care, groceries, parks, CATS, family visits, and seasonal route costs.
Verify the tax bill
Use the 0.68 percent effective rate, $3,047 median taxes, and $445,100 median home value as comparison inputs, then verify the parcel bill and owner costs.
Use the decision actions
Save the strongest Matthews budget, Compare another address, and choose Find my fit after rent, taxes, care, car, utilities, weather, and reserve questions are answered.
Questions retirees ask
What is the Matthews local estimate?
The local estimate is $3,613 per month. It uses $1,653 one bedroom housing, $460 groceries, $1,064 transportation, $436 healthcare, $247 utilities, and about $229 dining beside a source value of 74.6.
How should an owner use the property tax figures?
Use the Low display, 0.68 percent effective rate, $3,047 median taxes, and $445,100 median home value as comparison inputs. Verify the selected parcel, insurance, heating, repairs, cooling, parking, and reserves.
Can lower property taxes settle the Matthews budget?
No. Compare the parcel bill, insurance, heating, cooling, maintenance, repairs, parking, transportation, care routes, regional travel, and reserves with the housing line.
What changes for a couple or expat household?
The couple estimate is $4,956 and the expat estimate is $3,225. Review housing, food, transportation, healthcare, utilities, coverage, visitors, parking, weather, and reserves together.
Does the Required car label mean buses are absent?
No. Current CATS bus and Park and Ride resources exist. The label means the selected home still deserves a personal review of care, groceries, pharmacy, parks, parking, weather, regional trips, and backup rides.
Matthews can offer useful housing and tax anchors, provided a renter or owner prices transportation, care, weather, repairs, visitors, and reserves together. Save the strongest budget, Compare another address, and choose Find my fit after the selected household costs are visible.
Sources
The budget value gives a starting point for everyday spending. Housing, healthcare, safety, and climate can change what feels comfortable for a household.
Housing mix, exchange rates, healthcare needs, car ownership, and travel style can move a real monthly budget materially.
- U.S. Census Bureau; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Used for Comfortable Living, Cost of Living for Couple, Minimum Needed, Overall Feel
- U.S. Census ACS 2024 5-year table B25031
Used for Typical 1BR Rent
Checked 2026-05-07
- U.S. Energy Information Administration; U.S. Census Bureau; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Used for Utilities
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Used for Groceries, Transportation
- USDA Food Plans + OpenStreetMap dining POIs
Used for Dining Out
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Walkability Index
Used for Need for a Car
Checked 2026-07-10
- U.S. Census Bureau
Used for Property Taxes
- U.S. Census Bureau
Used for Residents 65+ Below Poverty Level
- U.S. Census Bureau
Used for 65+ Householder — Renter-Occupied
- U.S. Census Bureau
Used for 65+ Households With High Housing Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau
Used for Median Household Income, Householder 65+
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