We're seeing it everywhere: Gas at $4. Cocktails over $20. Rent climbing to $2,000, and homeownership out of reach.

• Charlotte is getting expensive.

Why it matters: The whole country is feeling the squeeze, but Charlotte faces an extra layer of economic pressure:

• The rising cost of being a desirable city.

We asked readers what recently gave them sticker shock in Charlotte. Responses poured in.

• "$15 high noon at gin mill" - Chloe W.
• "$28 for two 5pc supreme boxes at Bojangles" - Riley P.
• "1 million dollar townhomes with single car garage" - Brandon B.

State of play: Many of these ballooning costs are directly tied to Charlotte's fast growth. The city added more than 20,700 people last year.

• "When a community is growing rapidly, you get a lot of demand-pull inflation," says Piedmont Crescent Capital's chief economist Mark Vitner.

Zoom out: Some of the rising costs are national, like groceries and gas.

Zoom in: Some of the rising costs are Charlotte-specific.

• Dining out is increasing faster in the South.
• More restaurants are opening as Charlotte grows, and businesses are paying higher wages to compete for workers.
• "Who moves here doesn't necessarily always fit with what the labor market needs," says UNC Charlotte economics professor Matthew Metzgar. "Someone might come here for a job at Bank of America, but that doesn't help get any more staff at the restaurants."

Charlotte's fast-growing population of DINKs and young high-earning adults is supporting the luxury economy, too.

• "There are a lot of folks out there that are able to pay $15 for a cocktail," Vitner says.

Case in point: Some local consumer sentiment is a broader response to a changing city.

• Among the responses we received, several pointed to The Health Club, a relatively new luxury gym that charges over $270 monthly for membership.
• "It's just shocking," Lana B. says. "Equinox is cheaper."
• Others flagged their check at Uchi, the new snazzy Japanese restaurant that hails from Austin.

The big picture: Real estate used to almost feel like a "bargain" in Charlotte. But the city can no longer pride itself on a lower cost of living. It's more in line with the national average.

• The median sale price for a single-family home is now $444,000.
• Housing affordability is widely considered Charlotte's most challenging growing pain.

Yes, but: Charlotte's still more affordable than peer Southern metros.

• Homes are priced 4.8 times the median household income in Charlotte, versus 5.6 times in Austin and 5.5 times in Tampa.

The bottom line: Once again, Charlotte is a victim of its own success.

Read the full story

For your reading pleasure, here are some more responses to our Instagram poll: What made you say "Charlotte's getting expensive?"

• "Espresso martini at Indaco is $18 before tax and tip and is made with SMIRNOFF" - Holland M.
• "$500 vet bill for a couple shots and some generic meds" - Richard R.
• "Fresh market had a pack of ice cream sandwiches for $10." - Annie S.
• "$20 watermelons at the Yorkmont regional farmer's market!" - Tracy R.
• "Why is my morning lox and coffee $30" - Nike G.
• "$21 for 2 coffees" - Lauren S.
• "2 surfsides at gin mill ... being $32" - Isabelle C.
• "My gym went up 23%" - Taylor L.
• "A glass of Tequila at Monarch in uptown....$40" - Doug M.

If you're on the hunt for a new job, here are 9 to get you started.

• Assistant Public Works Director at Town of Matthews
• Police Captain at Town of Matthews
• Cultural Center Attendant at Town of Matthews
• Special Events Team Member at Town of Matthews
• Director, Institutional Gifts at Discovery Place
• Director of Development at Blumenthal Arts
• Marketing Business Coordinator at Blumenthal Arts
• Costume Shop Manager at Charlotte Ballet
• K- 8 Music Teacher at Charlotte Preparatory School

Want more opportunities? Check out all openings on our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

🍃 In an exploration of North Carolina's cannabis regulation, The Assembly tested 21 intoxicating hemp products from retailers across the state.

• Twelve contained unsafe levels of aerobic bacteria.
• Five had unsafe levels of yeast and mold.
• Three had coliform bacteria, found in the feces of warm-blooded animals.

💰 Counter- is advertising a $1,505 dinner. (Ledger)

🛍️ Who wants to buy the Metropolitan development? It's up for sale. Some would consider a permanent Trader Joe's parking spot priceless.

🚗 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools provides 21 executives with cars. (Charlotte Observer)

🚧 After months of scrutiny, Atrium Health has finalized a deal to fulfill one of its affordable housing promises at The Pearl.

• The hospital will transfer land at North Tryon, West 32nd and Poplar streets to Charlotte's housing authority for 1,200 apartments, 44 for-sale townhomes, retail, walking trails, a dog park and an outdoor amphitheater. (NC Health News)

🏦 Truist has named fintech exec Michael Lyons its next CEO to replace retiring Bill Rogers. (WSJ)