Raleigh vs Austin: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison

Comparing home values: Raleigh sits at $347,000, 25% lower than Austin's $461,500.

Households earn a median $78,631 in Raleigh, compared with $86,556 in Austin.

Median rent is $1,371 in Raleigh, compared with $1,549 in Austin.

Neither city stands out on hazard risk: FEMA rates both "Relatively High."

Metric	Raleigh, NC	Austin, TX
Population	465,517	958,202
Median home value	$347,000	$461,500
Median household income	$78,631	$86,556
Median gross rent	$1,371	$1,549
Climate risk (FEMA)	Relatively High	Relatively High

Raleigh, NC comes out ahead on housing affordability versus Austin, TX, with both a lower median home value and lower rent. Housing only — not the full cost-of-living picture.

Moving between Raleigh and Austin

Raleigh and Austin are 1,169 miles apart in a straight line.

What changes when you move	Raleigh → Austin	Austin → Raleigh
Median rent	+$178/mo (+13%)	−$178/mo (−11%)
Median home value	+$114,500 (+33%)	−$114,500 (−25%)
Median household income	+$7,925 (+10%)	−$7,925 (−9%)

Estimated moving cost (either direction)

Home size	Estimated cost
Studio / 1-bedroom	$1,581 – $2,514
2-3 bedroom	$3,636 – $5,723
4+ bedroom house	$6,089 – $9,541

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.

Raleigh, NC Austin, TX

1,344 miles estimated driving distance · 22.4 hours of highway driving

DIY Truck Rental

$1,717 – $2,187

Includes an estimated $470 in fuel (134 gal at ~10 mpg) over 3 driving days.

Professional Movers

$6,360 – $11,760

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.