Cost of Living in Raleigh, NC
Raleigh's cost of living index is 103 — making it 2.9% more expensive than the US national average. To maintain your current standard of living here, you would need to earn $103,000 for every $100,000 of national-average income.
The Raleigh Tax & Cost Impact
Raleigh offers a balanced tax profile. While North Carolina does have an income tax, it remains competitive compared to coastal hubs, especially when adjusted for local housing costs.
Decision Matrix
- ✓Housing: Housing is a value-play compared to national tiers.
- ✓Savings Rate: To save $2,000/mo here, you need a gross household income of ~$86,520.
COL Index
103
100 = national avg
Monthly Budget
$5,150
vs $5,000 national
Population
0.5M
Metro area
State Tax
Yes
North Carolina
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Estimated monthly costs in Raleigh vs national average for a typical household.
| Category | National Avg | Raleigh | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,650 | $1,724 | +$74 |
| Groceries | $650 | $666 | +$16 |
| Transportation | $800 | $822 | +$22 |
| Healthcare | $400 | $408 | +$8 |
| Utilities | $300 | $309 | +$9 |
| Other | $1,200 | $1,229 | +$29 |
| Total | $5,000 | $5,150 | +$150 |
Estimated Budget: Single vs. Family of Four
Estimates from LifeCalc's model, not surveyed prices. We treat the $5,000 national baseline as a family-of-four budget, scale each category by Raleigh's index (housing moves 1.5x as much as the index, groceries 0.8x, and so on), then apply assumed single-adult shares per category (housing 65%, groceries 30%, transportation 55%, healthcare 30%, utilities 60%, other 45%).
| Category | Single adult / mo | Family of four / mo |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,121 | $1,724 |
| Groceries | $200 | $666 |
| Transportation | $452 | $822 |
| Healthcare | $122 | $408 |
| Utilities | $185 | $309 |
| Other | $553 | $1,229 |
| Total (estimate) | $2,633 | $5,158 |
For comparison, the same model gives about $2,548 (single) and $5,000 (family of four) at the national average. Raleigh is $158 above the family baseline each month.
Salary Needed and State Tax Context
Our dataset's median of state median household incomes is $77,871. Scaling that by Raleigh's index of 103 suggests you would need roughly $80,207 a year here to match that standard of living. This is a cost-of-living adjustment only; it does not adjust for your household or housing choices.
North Carolina's top marginal income tax rate is 4.0%; on $80,207 our bracket data gives about $3,200 of state income tax for a single filer. North Carolina's statewide cost index is 96 and its median household income is $73,958. See all North Carolina tax brackets.
Closest cities by index
Salary Equivalent
To maintain the same standard of living in Raleigh, a national-average salary translates to:
$50,000 nationally
$51,500
$75,000 nationally
$77,250
$100,000 nationally
$103,000
$150,000 nationally
$154,500
What Your Salary Gets You in Raleigh
Here's how different salary levels translate to monthly purchasing power in Raleigh, NC, where the cost of living is 3% above the national average.
Cities With Similar Cost of Living
FAQ: Cost of Living in Raleigh
Is Raleigh expensive to live in?
Raleigh's cost of living index is 103, which is slightly above the national average of 100. Housing is typically the biggest factor, with estimated monthly rent around $1,700.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Raleigh?
To maintain a middle-class lifestyle in Raleigh, you'd need approximately $77,250 per year, which is equivalent to a $75,000 salary at the national average cost of living.
How does Raleigh compare to other cities?
Raleigh is comparable in cost to Phoenix, Mesa, Colorado Springs. More affordable alternatives include Indianapolis, Greensboro, Buffalo.