Home › NC › Raleigh, NC Cost of living in Raleigh, NC Livability score 64 · cost-of-living index 98.4 (US = 100)
How Raleigh compares Where Raleigh falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 98 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 98 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $438k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $438k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $219 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $219 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.75% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.75% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 400 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 400 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 16.3 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 16.3 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 89° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 89° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 30° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 30° Map of Raleigh Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 98.4 metro-area #131 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 96.8 metro-area #106 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.60 metro-area #130 of 200 Median household income $91,818 metro-area #25 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $49,056 metro-area #14 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 37.5 years metro-area #73 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 50.2% metro-area #10 of 200 Foreign-born residents 13.1% metro-area #52 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 67.0% metro-area #93 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 4.19% metro-area #33 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +11.5% metro-area #19 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $438,364 metro-area #151 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.8× metro-area #102 of 200 1-yr home appreciation -2.2% metro-area #179 of 200 Price per square foot $219 metro-area #136 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,000 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,694 metro-area #115 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 5,668 Median days on market 16 metro-area #90 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.9% state #88 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.98% state #55 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 4.25% Capital gains tax 4.25% state #78 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.75% metro-area #70 of 200 Median property tax paid $2,601 metro-area #96 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 80.0 years metro-area #23 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,600 state #65 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 9.4% metro-area #117 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 73 metro-area #111 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $10,000 state #58 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $130 state #107 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.10% of value (~$308/yr) state #146 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 12 Avg commute to work 27 min metro-area #158 of 200 Commute by driving alone 67.3% metro-area #25 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 40.8% metro-area #166 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 16.3¢/kWh state #72 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $146 state #72 of 200 Gasoline $3.20/gal state #63 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $62 state #69 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $78 state #36 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $80 state #106 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,000 state #110 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,400 state #18 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 91.9 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #119 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $800 state #120 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 47 metro-area #107 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,600 metro-area #119 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 91% state #115 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 3,400 metro-area #85 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 47 metro-area #125 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 2 metro-area #144 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 89°F metro-area #113 of 200 Avg winter low 30°F metro-area #89 of 200 Annual precipitation 46.1" metro-area #137 of 200 Annual snowfall 5.2" metro-area #89 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 58% metro-area #105 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 7b Frost window 04-01 → 11-10
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 400 state #100 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,200 state #98 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 40 metro-area #122 of 200 Parks 45 Hiking areas 18 Golf courses 20 Shooting ranges 7 Lakes 3
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 state #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Raleigh Major public and private employers in the Raleigh, NC area.
Employer Sector Jobs Duke University Health System Healthcare Search → University of North Carolina Education Search → North Carolina State University Education Search → First Citizens Bank Finance Careers → Lenovo Tech Careers → SAS Institute Tech Careers →
Salaries by occupation in Raleigh Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $167,360 Marketing Managers $153,470 Lawyers $142,050 Financial Managers $139,220 Pharmacists $135,370 Software Developers $132,000 Human Resources Managers $130,480 Data Scientists $126,950 Physician Assistants $116,240 General & Operations Managers $110,530 Construction Managers $106,130 Mechanical Engineers $99,560 Physical Therapists $90,400 Civil Engineers $89,110 Registered Nurses $81,910 Web Developers $81,340 Dental Hygienists $80,530 Accountants & Auditors $80,270 Graphic Designers $61,800 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $60,570 Elementary School Teachers $56,930 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $52,170 Electricians $51,180 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,510 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $49,370 Carpenters $48,880 Real Estate Sales Agents $44,650 Medical Assistants $40,570
Cities in the Raleigh area
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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