Charlotte vs Raleigh: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison

Comparing home values: Charlotte sits at $312,800, 10% lower than Raleigh's $347,000.

Charlotte's median household income runs $74,070, against $78,631 in Raleigh.

Charlotte's median rent sits at $1,399, against $1,371 in Raleigh.

Climate risk is a wash here — both cities carry a "Relatively High" FEMA rating.

Metric	Charlotte, NC	Raleigh, NC
Population	875,045	465,517
Median home value	$312,800	$347,000
Median household income	$74,070	$78,631
Median gross rent	$1,399	$1,371
Climate risk (FEMA)	Relatively High	Relatively High

Mixed picture on housing: lower home values in Charlotte, NC, lower rent in Raleigh, NC. This reflects housing only, not total cost of living.

Moving between Charlotte and Raleigh

Charlotte and Raleigh are 130 miles apart in a straight line.

What changes when you move	Charlotte → Raleigh	Raleigh → Charlotte
Median rent	−$28/mo (−2%)	+$28/mo (+2%)
Median home value	+$34,200 (+11%)	−$34,200 (−10%)
Median household income	+$4,561 (+6%)	−$4,561 (−6%)

Estimated moving cost (either direction)

Home size	Estimated cost
Studio / 1-bedroom	$567 – $866
2-3 bedroom	$1,724 – $2,616
4+ bedroom house	$3,188 – $4,827

Estimates based on typical per-mile and per-room moving-industry rates; actual quotes vary by mover, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Charlotte, NC Raleigh, NC

150 miles estimated driving distance · 2.5 hours of highway driving

DIY Truck Rental

$279 – $357

Includes an estimated $53 in fuel (15 gal at ~10 mpg) over 1 driving day.

Professional Movers

$1,509 – $2,432

Full-service crew, loading and unloading included.

Estimates based on typical rental-truck, fuel, and professional-mover industry rates; actual quotes vary by carrier, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey; FEMA National Risk Index

Data last updated July 2026.