City profile
Raleigh, NC cost of living
NC · BLS RPP 98.4
Overall RPP
98.4
US = 100
Housing RPP
104.5
Housing component
Goods RPP
95.8
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$1,646/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Raleigh, NC sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#34 of 67
-1.6 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
+0.0
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#29 of 67
+40/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Raleigh, NC
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Raleigh, NC metro.
Moved in
90,126
people · 50,538 households
Moved out
77,247
people · 44,329 households
Net
+12,879
net gain of residents
Net migration rank
#12 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
+12,983
median -104 people
Largest flow share
7% in / 7% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Durham County, NC 6,225
- Harnett County, NC 1,838
- Mecklenburg County, NC 1,567
- Cumberland County, NC 1,210
- Guilford County, NC 1,198
Where residents moved to
- Durham County, NC 5,270
- Harnett County, NC 3,325
- Mecklenburg County, NC 1,765
- Nash County, NC 1,486
- Chatham County, NC 1,432
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Raleigh, NC?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Raleigh, NC | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $49,200 | $50,000 x (98.4/100) |
| $75,000 | $73,800 | $75,000 x (98.4/100) |
| $100,000 | $98,400 | $100,000 x (98.4/100) |
| $125,000 | $123,000 | $125,000 x (98.4/100) |
| $150,000 | $147,600 | $150,000 x (98.4/100) |
| $200,000 | $196,800 | $200,000 x (98.4/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
North Carolina flat income tax 4.5%.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Raleigh, NC?
- Raleigh, NC has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 98.4 (US average = 100). It is 1.6% less expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Raleigh, NC?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $98,400 in Raleigh, NC to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Raleigh, NC?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Raleigh, NC is approximately $1,646 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Raleigh, NC?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 90,126 people moved into the Raleigh, NC metro and 77,247 moved out — a net gain of roughly 12,879 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Durham County, NC.
Curated nearby & similar cities
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These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to Raleigh, NC, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
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