Cost of Living in Raleigh, NC
Raleigh-Cary, NC — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Raleigh, NC to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Raleigh, NC?
With a price level of 98.2 (U.S. average = 100), Raleigh, NC is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs run 3% above average; everyday goods are 3% below average; utilities are 11% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 2% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Raleigh, NC vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.2 | −1.8% |
| Housing | 103.5 | +3.5% |
| Goods | 96.6 | −3.4% |
| Utilities | 89.0 | −11.0% |
| Other services | 98.2 | −1.8% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Raleigh, NC
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,524 | $60,960/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,596 | $63,840/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,750 | $70,000/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,196 | $87,840/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,936 | $117,440/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Raleigh, NC
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Raleigh, NC | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $39,300 | $32,698 |
| $60,000 | $58,900 | $47,665 |
| $80,000 | $78,500 | $61,431 |
| $100,000 | $98,200 | $74,504 |
| $150,000 | $147,200 | $106,513 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, North Carolina 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Raleigh, NC's median wage of $51,990 takes home about $3,532 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,596, which is 45% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $1,936 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Raleigh, NC
- Federal income tax$4,059
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,223
- Medicare (1.45%)$754
- North Carolina income tax$1,566
- Take-home pay$42,388
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Highest-paying jobs in Raleigh, NC
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in North Carolina cities
Half of North Carolina’s 4,941,820 workers earn less than $47,970 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,030–$75,610 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Durham, NC stretches a paycheck furthest, while Jacksonville, NC is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | $49,990 | 97.3 | $1,428 | 42% | $1,977 | $41,974 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $49,430 | 97.9 | $1,508 | 45% | $1,861 | $41,284 |
| Raleigh, NC | $51,990 | 98.2 | $1,596 | 45% | $1,936 | $43,184 |
| Greensboro, NC | $46,570 | 92.9 | $1,164 | 37% | $2,023 | $41,188 |
| Durham, NC | $60,720 | 97.6 | $1,456 | 36% | $2,632 | $50,275 |
| Winston, NC | $46,380 | 92.0 | $1,031 | 32% | $2,144 | $41,399 |
| Wilmington, NC | $45,800 | 96.4 | $1,380 | 44% | $1,758 | $39,059 |
| Asheville, NC | $46,870 | 96.5 | $1,429 | 45% | $1,778 | $39,872 |
| Hickory, NC | $45,220 | 88.5 | $908 | 29% | $2,194 | $42,062 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $45,620 | 92.0 | $1,065 | 34% | $2,062 | $40,797 |
| Greenville, NC | $46,560 | 88.4 | $896 | 28% | $2,291 | $43,259 |
| Burlington, NC | $44,010 | 93.2 | $1,230 | 41% | $1,795 | $38,945 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $43,960 | 88.0 | $918 | 30% | $2,103 | $41,195 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $40,230 | 92.1 | $935 | 34% | $1,849 | $36,280 |
| Pinehurst, NC | $42,920 | 88.3 | $1,239 | 42% | $1,716 | $40,145 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Raleigh, NC vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 98.2 | $1,596 | $51,990 | 743,120 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 97.9 | $1,508 | $49,430 | 763,060 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 99.5 | $1,374 | $48,830 | 765,930 |
| Providence, RI | 101.8 | $1,423 | $53,680 | 714,120 |
| Louisville, KY | 93.1 | $1,026 | $48,370 | 685,190 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 90.4 | $1,002 | $47,230 | 677,680 |
| Milwaukee, WI | 96.9 | $1,119 | $51,160 | 820,780 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Raleigh, NC expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area are 98.2% of the U.S. average, with housing at 103.5%. It is the #111 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Raleigh, NC?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $58,894 in Raleigh, NC (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $51,990.
Can you afford Raleigh, NC on the median wage?
A single worker on the $51,990 median wage takes home about $3,532 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,596 would take 45% of that.
How much is rent in Raleigh, NC?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Raleigh, NC are $1,524 for a studio, $1,596 for one bedroom, $1,750 for two bedrooms and $2,196 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Raleigh, NC
Management Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $173,960
- Marketing Manager — $167,640
- Sales Manager — $163,520
- Financial Manager — $163,130
- Managers, All Other — $147,370
- Construction Manager — $119,700
- General and Operations Manager — $114,940
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $102,280
- Management Analyst — $96,820
- Accountant and Auditor — $81,950
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $80,390
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $78,980
- Human Resources Specialist — $74,170
- Training and Development Specialist — $67,560
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Information Security Analyst — $143,640
- Software Developer — $132,770
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $110,030
- Computer Systems Analyst — $108,480
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $103,380
- Computer User Support Specialist — $62,460
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Civil Engineer — $101,440
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $131,920
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $61,880
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $60,380
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $60,170
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $36,030
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $35,300
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $84,830
- Pharmacy Technician — $46,130
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $46,160
- Nursing Assistant — $39,710
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $32,570
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $65,860
- Firefighter — $45,640
- Security Guard — $34,680
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,020
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,280
- Bartender — $36,120
- Waiter and Waitress — $34,860
- Food Preparation Worker — $29,470
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $29,150
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,080
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,220
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $38,500
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $34,980
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $33,590
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $48,800
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $29,390
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — $102,260
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $72,220
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $71,990
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $68,560
- Insurance Sales Agent — $59,900
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $49,300
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $39,240
- Retail Salesperson — $33,100
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $64,550
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $50,200
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $48,500
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $46,600
- Office Clerks, General — $44,460
- Customer Service Representative — $41,900
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $36,550
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $77,690
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $60,540
- Electrician — $56,800
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $51,110
- Carpenter — $50,820
- Construction Laborer — $45,650
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $76,450
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $58,900
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $50,600
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $49,870
Production Occupations
- Production Workers, All Other — $39,510
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $38,080
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $60,370
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $52,110
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $45,140
- Light Truck Driver — $39,840
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $38,470
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,220