Compare states
North Carolina vs Virginia for retirement
On the 8 lines this page tracks, North Carolina comes out lower or more retiree-friendly on 4 of them. That is a starting point, not a verdict: your own spending, housing, income mix, and the city you pick still decide the real number.
A green check marks the more retiree-friendly side on that line (lower cost, lower tax, or Social Security not taxed). Lower is not always better for you; these are state averages, not your plan.
Common questions
North Carolina vs Virginia, answered.
Is North Carolina or Virginia cheaper to retire in?
On the BEA cost-of-living index, North Carolina sits at 94 and Virginia at 101, where 100 is the U.S. average. So the same basket of goods tends to cost less in North Carolina. Housing and your own budget still decide the real number.
Which has lower taxes for retirees, North Carolina or Virginia?
North Carolina uses about a 4.5% blended retirement-income planning rate. Virginia uses about a 4.5% blended retirement-income planning rate. North Carolina's average combined sales tax is 7.0% and its property-tax planning rate is 0.8%; Virginia is 5.8% and 0.8%.
Does North Carolina or Virginia tax Social Security?
North Carolina does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here. Virginia does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here.
Where is long-term care cheaper, North Carolina or Virginia?
In the CareScout and Genworth 2025 medians, assisted living runs about $77,955 a year in North Carolina and $83,340 in Virginia; a semi-private nursing-home room is about $116,800 versus $123,005.