Route comparison
Charlotte, NC vs Raleigh, NC: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Charlotte, NC and Raleigh, NC. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Charlotte, NC
NC
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 96.9
- Housing RPP
- 93.9
- Goods RPP
- 95.7
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,554/mo
North Carolina flat income tax 4.5%.
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 more expensive than Charlotte, NC by about 1.5% (RPP 96.9 to 98.4).
$60,000 in Charlotte, NC
-> $60,929
in Raleigh, NC
$100,000 in Charlotte, NC
-> $101,548
in Raleigh, NC
$150,000 in Charlotte, NC
-> $152,322
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: Charlotte, NC vs Raleigh, NC
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Charlotte, NC
- Net people
- +25,304
- Net rank
- #6 of 65
- Top origin share
- 2%
- Top destination share
- 2%
Largest source: Wake County, NC. Largest destination: Catawba County, NC.
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 $92/mo higher for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Charlotte, NC. Housing RPP moves from 93.9 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 Charlotte, NC?
- Raleigh, NC (RPP 98.4) is more expensive than Charlotte, NC (RPP 96.9) by about 1.5%.
- What salary do I need in Raleigh, NC if I earn $100,000 in Charlotte, NC?
- You would need approximately $101,548 in Raleigh, NC to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Charlotte, NC. Formula: $100,000 x (98.4 / 96.9).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Charlotte, NC or Raleigh, NC?
- For 2021-2022, Charlotte, NC had a net gain of 25,304 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.