Cost of Living in Raleigh

United States · North America · Currency: USD

58.6
COLI Index
#48
of 113 Cities
23.6%
Total Deductions
$1,450
1BR Rent/mo

About Raleigh

Raleigh has a cost of living index of 58.6, making it a moderate cost city compared to New York (baseline = 100). It ranks #48 out of 113 cities tracked globally.

The local currency is USD. A salary of $75,000 USD in New York would need to be approximately $43,950 in Raleigh to maintain the same purchasing power.

The approximate effective income tax rate in United States is 11% for a mid-range earner. Including social security and other mandatory deductions, the total deduction rate is approximately 23.6%.

Monthly Cost Breakdown in Raleigh

Estimated monthly expense allocation for a mid-range earner living in Raleigh. Housing costs are based on average one-bedroom rent in the city center ($1,450/month), with other categories adjusted for the local cost of living index.

Housing
45%
Food & Groceries
15%
Transportation
8%
Utilities
6%
Healthcare
4%
Other & Savings
22%

Estimates based on a mid-range salary adjusted for Raleigh's COLI of 58.6 and United States's total deduction rate of 23.6%. Individual expenses will vary.

Tax & Deductions Breakdown in Raleigh

Estimated annual deductions for a mid-range salary of $43,950 in Raleigh. This shows all mandatory payroll deductions as a local employee.

Income Tax
11%
Social Security + Medicare (FICA)
7.6%
State Income Tax (NC)
4.5%
Total Deductions: 23.6%
Est. Take-Home: $33,568/yr

Rates shown are for a local employee. Expat rates may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.

Salary Ranges by Job Title in Raleigh (2026)

Estimated annual salaries in Raleigh (USD) adjusted for cost of living. These figures represent local purchasing-power-adjusted ranges based on global baseline data.

Job Title Entry Level Mid Level Senior Level
Doctor (General) $46,880 $105,480 $205,100
Surgeon $70,320 $164,080 $293,000
Dentist $41,020 $93,760 $175,800
Pharmacist $35,160 $73,250 $117,200
Nurse $17,580 $33,988 $58,600
Psychologist $26,370 $49,810 $87,900
Software Engineer $26,370 $49,810 $105,480
DevOps Engineer $29,300 $55,670 $102,550
Data Scientist $29,300 $55,670 $99,620
Mechanical Engineer $23,440 $45,708 $82,040
Civil Engineer $22,268 $42,192 $79,110
Electrical Engineer $24,612 $46,880 $84,970
Architect $22,268 $42,192 $76,180
UX Designer $23,440 $43,950 $82,040
Product Manager $32,230 $58,600 $111,340
Project Manager $26,370 $46,880 $87,900
Financial Analyst $24,612 $45,708 $84,970
Accountant $20,510 $36,332 $64,460
Business Analyst $24,612 $43,950 $82,040
Consultant $26,370 $52,740 $105,480
Investment Banker $46,880 $87,900 $205,100
Actuary $35,160 $64,460 $117,200
Lawyer $29,300 $58,600 $128,920
Paralegal $17,580 $30,472 $49,810
Marketing Manager $22,268 $42,192 $79,110
Sales Manager $23,440 $46,880 $93,760
Graphic Designer $17,580 $32,230 $58,600
Content Writer $14,650 $29,300 $52,740
HR Manager $22,268 $41,020 $76,180
Operations Manager $26,370 $48,052 $87,900
CEO / Executive $58,600 $128,920 $293,000
Teacher $14,650 $28,128 $49,810
Professor $29,300 $55,670 $105,480
Research Scientist $26,370 $49,810 $90,830
Pilot $29,300 $70,320 $146,500
Chef $14,650 $29,300 $58,600
Journalist $14,650 $30,472 $55,670

Salary ranges are estimates adjusted by Raleigh's COLI (58.6) relative to the New York baseline (100). Actual salaries depend on experience, company, and industry.

How Much Do You Need to Earn in Raleigh?

Understanding your take-home pay is critical when evaluating a move to Raleigh. With total deductions of approximately 23.6% (income tax + social security) in United States and average one-bedroom rent of $1,450/month, here is what a mid-range salary looks like:

$43,950
Gross Annual (Mid-Range)
$2,798
Monthly Take-Home

After taxes, a mid-range earner in Raleigh takes home approximately $2,798 per month. With housing consuming roughly 45% of after-tax income, careful budgeting is essential in this moderate cost city. Your purchasing power in Raleigh is 171% of what it would be in New York for the same nominal salary.

Neighborhoods in Raleigh

30 neighborhoods tracked with cost multipliers relative to the city average. This neighborhood-level data helps you understand exactly how costs vary within Raleigh.

NeighborhoodMultipliervs City Avg
Chapel Hill 1.25x +25%
Glenwood South 1.22x +22%
Downtown Raleigh 1.20x +20%
North Hills 1.18x +18%
ITB (Inside the Beltline) 1.18x +18%
Cameron Village 1.15x +15%
Oakwood 1.15x +15%
Five Points 1.12x +12%
Midtown 1.12x +12%
Carrboro 1.10x +10%
Boylan Heights 1.10x +10%
Cary 1.05x +5%
Brier Creek 1.02x +2%
RTP Area 1.00x +0%
Morrisville 0.98x -2%
Durham 0.95x -5%
Wakefield 0.95x -5%
Apex 0.92x -8%
West Raleigh 0.92x -8%
North Raleigh 0.90x -10%
Falls of Neuse 0.88x -12%
Holly Springs 0.85x -15%
Wake Forest 0.82x -18%
Hillsborough 0.80x -20%
Fuquay-Varina 0.78x -22%
Knightdale 0.75x -25%
Garner 0.72x -28%
Wendell 0.72x -28%
Clayton 0.70x -30%
Zebulon 0.68x -32%

Salary Comparison: Raleigh vs Other Cities

To maintain the same standard of living as $75,000 USD in Raleigh, here's what you'd need in other cities:

City COLI Equivalent Salary Difference
New York 100 $127,986 +41%
London 87.5 £84,328 +33%
Singapore 87.7 S$146,222 +33%
Dubai 72.4 AED 335,691 +19%
Berlin 51.2 €55,561 -13%
Tokyo 77.3 ¥15,325,745 +24%
Sydney 74.5 A$135,486 +21%
Toronto 62.3 C$107,955 +6%

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living index for Raleigh?

The cost of living index (COLI) for Raleigh is 58.6, which ranks #48 out of 113 cities globally. New York is the baseline at 100.

How much salary do I need in Raleigh to match $75,000 in New York?

To maintain the same purchasing power as $75,000 USD in New York, you would need approximately $43,950 in Raleigh.

What is the average rent in Raleigh?

The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center of Raleigh is approximately $1,450 USD.

What are the total payroll deductions in United States?

The approximate effective income tax rate for a mid-range earner in United States is approximately 11%. Including social security and other mandatory contributions, total deductions are approximately 23.6%.

What are the cheapest neighborhoods in Raleigh?

The most affordable neighborhoods include Wendell, Clayton, Zebulon.

What are the most expensive areas in Raleigh?

The most expensive neighborhoods are Chapel Hill, Glenwood South, Downtown Raleigh.

Data Sources & Methodology

Our cost of living index (COLI) uses New York City as the baseline (COLI = 100). Indices are derived from multiple sources including Numbeo, Expatistan, and national statistics agencies. Exchange rates are sourced from the European Central Bank.

Tax rates represent approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages data and do not constitute tax advice. Neighborhood cost multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data. Salary ranges are modeled by adjusting global baseline figures by each city's COLI.

Last updated: 2026-04-02. Data is refreshed periodically and may not reflect very recent changes. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.

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