Route comparison
Atlanta, GA vs Raleigh, NC: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Atlanta, GA and Raleigh, NC. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Atlanta, GA
GA
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 98.8
- Housing RPP
- 107.4
- Goods RPP
- 99.3
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,844/mo
Georgia income tax 5.49% flat. No city income tax.
Raleigh, NC
NC
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 98.4
- Housing RPP
- 104.5
- Goods RPP
- 95.8
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,646/mo
North Carolina flat income tax 4.5%.
Equivalent salary
Raleigh, NC is cheaper than Atlanta, GA by about 0.4% (RPP 98.8 to 98.4).
$60,000 in Atlanta, GA
-> $59,757
in Raleigh, NC
$100,000 in Atlanta, GA
-> $99,595
in Raleigh, NC
$150,000 in Atlanta, GA
-> $149,393
in Raleigh, NC
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.
Migration signal: Atlanta, GA vs Raleigh, NC
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Atlanta, GA
- Net people
- +17,865
- Net rank
- #10 of 65
- Top origin share
- 1%
- Top destination share
- 2%
Largest source: Hall County, GA. Largest destination: Hall County, GA.
Raleigh, NC
- Net people
- +12,879
- Net rank
- #12 of 65
- Top origin share
- 7%
- Top destination share
- 7%
Largest source: Durham County, NC. Largest destination: Durham County, NC.
Rent delta: Raleigh, NC is $198/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Atlanta, GA. Housing RPP moves from 107.4 to 104.5.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Raleigh, NC cheaper or more expensive than Atlanta, GA?
- Raleigh, NC (RPP 98.4) is cheaper than Atlanta, GA (RPP 98.8) by about 0.4%.
- What salary do I need in Raleigh, NC if I earn $100,000 in Atlanta, GA?
- You would need approximately $99,595 in Raleigh, NC to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Atlanta, GA. Formula: $100,000 x (98.4 / 98.8).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Atlanta, GA or Raleigh, NC?
- For 2021-2022, Atlanta, GA had a net gain of 17,865 people, while Raleigh, NC had a net gain of 12,879 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.