Cost of Living in Raleigh, North Carolina (2026)
COL Index
101
100 = US avg
1BR Rent
$1,700
per month
Median HHI
$70K
per year
State Tax
4.5%
income tax
Full cost breakdown
| Category | Raleigh |
|---|---|
| 🏠 HousingQ1 2026 | |
| Studio rent/mo | $1,400 |
| 1BR rent/mo | $1,700 |
| 2BR rent/mo | $2,200 |
| Median home price | $380K |
| 🛒 Food & GroceriesQ1 2026 | |
| Groceries index (100 = US avg) | 96 |
| Budget meal (1 person) | $13 |
| Mid-range dinner (2 people) | $55 |
| 🚌 TransportationQ1 2026 | |
| Monthly transit pass/mo | $70 |
| Gas price/gal | $3.10 |
| Car insurance/moCompare rates → | $145 |
| ⚡ UtilitiesQ1 2026 | |
| Utilities bundle (elec + gas + water)/mo | $150 |
| Internet/mo | $60 |
| 💰 Income & TaxesQ1 2026 | |
| Median household income/yr | $70K |
| State income tax rate | 4.5% |
| Sales tax (combined) | 7.5% |
| 📊 OverviewQ1 2026 | |
| Overall COL index (100 = US avg) | 101 |
| Walk score / 100 | 26 |
Is Raleigh affordable on your salary?
How rent burden (1BR) changes across income levels. Under 30% is comfortable; above 40% is tight.
$40K
~$2,578/mo take-home
66% rent burden · Difficult
$50K
~$2,973/mo take-home
57% rent burden · Difficult
$60K
~$3,568/mo take-home
48% rent burden · Difficult
$75K
~$4,459/mo take-home
38% rent burden · Tight
$80K
~$4,757/mo take-home
36% rent burden · Tight
$100K
~$5,946/mo take-home
29% rent burden · Manageable
$120K
~$6,705/mo take-home
25% rent burden · Comfortable
$150K
~$8,381/mo take-home
20% rent burden · Very comfortable
High cost of living cuts into your budget. A cash-back card helps recover it.
Earn 2–5% back on groceries, gas, and dining automatically.
Too expensive? Find cheaper alternatives.
See cities with a lower cost of living than Raleigh.
Compare Raleigh with other cities
Raleigh vs New YorkCompare →Raleigh vs Los AngelesCompare →Raleigh vs ChicagoCompare →Raleigh vs HoustonCompare →Save your comparisonsCreate free account →
Data: Zillow Observed Rent Index, BLS, Numbeo, Tax Foundation, US Census ACS · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only