Cost of living, Raleigh
98.2
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). Raleigh sits about 1.8% below national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- −1.8%
- Metro
- Raleigh
- CBSA
- 39580
Raleigh all-items RPP is 98.2 (2024), about 1.8% below US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $88,380 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in Raleigh
| Component | Raleigh | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.2 | 100 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 103.5 | 100 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in Raleigh
| At US average | In Raleigh |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $58,920 |
| $90,000 | $88,380 |
| $150,000 | $147,300 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (98.2 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in Raleigh?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for Raleigh-Cary, NC is 98.2, versus a US average of 100 (−1.8%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $88,380 in Raleigh for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Physicians, All Other , 1,190 OEWS emp. $354,130
- Chief Executives , 360 OEWS emp. $286,050
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 6,010 OEWS emp. $173,960
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 1,850 OEWS emp. $169,780
- Marketing Managers , 2,390 OEWS emp. $167,640
- Sales Managers , 3,280 OEWS emp. $163,520
See methodology and disclaimer.