Raleigh, NC Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Raleigh, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Raleigh →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
With a population near 465,517, Raleigh, North Carolina sits roughly in line with the multi-city income median: households earn a typical $78,631 per year (+9% vs. that benchmark).
Home values in Raleigh run a median $347,000, roughly in line with the benchmark across cities in our dataset (+6%). Renters see a median monthly cost of $1,371. Mortgage rates and property taxes are worth checking before you commit either way.
Home prices in Raleigh run about 4.4× median household income — a middle-of-the-road ratio, neither a bargain nor a stretch by our tracked standards. Year-over-year, home values around Raleigh are up 1.01%, a pace in line with a healthy, unremarkable market. Climate and natural-hazard risk in Raleigh runs on the higher side, per FEMA's Relatively High rating — insurance premiums often track this closely.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,371/mo in Raleigh would take 20.9% of your income.
$595/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($347,000) would take 28.3% of your income toward principal & interest.
$18/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Raleigh
Median home value is $347,000 and median gross rent is $1,371/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Wake rose 1.01% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,750/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Raleigh's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Raleigh reported a violent crime rate of 394.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Raleigh
Planning a move to Raleigh? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Cost estimates for moving between Raleigh and nearby popular destinations:
- Moving from Raleigh to Charlotte
- Moving from Raleigh to Austin
- Moving from Raleigh to New York
- Moving from Raleigh to Boston
- Moving from Raleigh to Philadelphia
- Moving from Raleigh to Washington
- Moving from Raleigh to Denver
- Moving from Raleigh to Seattle
- Moving from Raleigh to Atlanta
- Moving from Raleigh to Chicago
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Raleigh, NC?
- For a quick read on Raleigh: homes carry a median value of $347,000, rent runs a median $1,371 monthly, and household income is a median $78,631, all from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Raleigh?
- Using the standard 30%-of-income rule of thumb, affording Raleigh's median rent of $1,371/month takes an income of roughly $54,840 a year. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Raleigh.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Raleigh?
- Raleigh's median rent of $1,371/month translates to about $54,840 a year needed to rent comfortably, versus roughly $79,392 a year for principal and interest on the $347,000 median home (20% down, 30-year fixed, today's rates). How long you'll stay is usually the deciding factor.
- Is Raleigh safe?
- Per FBI Crime Data Explorer figures, Raleigh's violent crime rate was 394.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025.
See the full salary breakdown for Raleigh →
Compare Raleigh to similar cities
- Charlotte vs Raleigh: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Raleigh vs Austin: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Raleigh vs New York: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Boston vs Raleigh: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Raleigh vs Philadelphia: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
- Washington vs Raleigh: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Raleigh's.