What is the cost of living in Raleigh, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Raleigh has an overall cost of living index of 116, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Raleigh has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Raleigh ranks as #132 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Raleigh ranks as the #27 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Raleigh, check out:
Raleigh Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Raleigh. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Raleigh is 101.
The Groceries index in Raleigh is 101.
The Health index in Raleigh is 144.
The Housing index in Raleigh is 106.
The Transportation index in Raleigh is 100.
The Utilities index in Raleigh is 106.
| Living Expense | Raleigh | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 116 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 144 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 106 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 101 | 100 |
Raleigh Cost Of Living Compared To North Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In North Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In North Carolina
- Average Rent In North Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Raleigh, NC Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Carolina, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Raleigh is $433,996.
The Median Rent in Raleigh is $1,572.
The Median Income in Raleigh is $85,395.
The Home Value To Income in Raleigh is 5.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Raleigh is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Raleigh | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $433,996 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,572 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $85,395 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.1x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Raleigh, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Raleigh Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Raleigh | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.09 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.27 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $11.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $19.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $29.58 | $45.56 |
Detailed Raleigh Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Raleigh | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.93 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.59 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.57 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.18 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.47 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.29 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.65 | $3.7 |
Detailed Raleigh Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Raleigh | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Raleigh Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Raleigh | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Raleigh Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Raleigh | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $192.25 |
Raleigh SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Raleigh
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Raleigh. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Durham, NC has a cost of living index of 111, 1.0x Raleigh.
Cary, NC has a cost of living index of 123, 1.1x Raleigh.
Apex, NC has a cost of living index of 121, 1.0x Raleigh.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Raleigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NC | 291,467 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Cary, NC | 179,306 | 123 | 1.1x |
| Apex, NC | 70,630 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Wake Forest, NC | 52,844 | 117 | 1.0x |
| Holly Springs, NC | 45,248 | 126 | 1.1x |
| Fuquay-Varina, NC | 40,485 | 112 | 1.0x |
| Garner, NC | 34,473 | 104 | 0.9x |
| Morrisville, NC | 31,422 | 121 | 1.0x |
| Clayton, NC | 29,320 | 102 | 0.9x |
| Knightdale, NC | 20,214 | 107 | 0.9x |
