How Much Does It Cost to Live In Raleigh, NC?
Raleigh was named for Sir Walter Raleigh, the famous English soldier.
It is also the capital of North Carolina and home to North Carolina State University, the state’s largest university
The cost of living is below the average in the US although it is increasing.
Job growth in Raleigh ranks among the top 10 in the US.
Many people also choose to live in its neighboring communities like Rolesville, Garner, and Knightdale.
Raleigh is one of the best places to raise a family and offers jobs that pay well as compared to the cost of living.
United States : Cost of Living by City
- Albany, NY
- Albuquerque, NM
- Anchorage, AK
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Arlington, TX
- Asheville, NC
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Bakersfield, CA
- Baltimore, MD
- Bellevue, WA
- Bellingham, WA
- Berkeley, CA
- Birmingham, AL
- Boise, ID
- Boston, MA
- Boulder, CO
- Brooklyn, NY
- Buffalo, NY
- Burlington, VT
- Charleston, SC
- Charlotte, NC
- Chattanooga, TN
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbia, SC
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Dayton, OH
- Denver, CO
- Des Moines, IA
- Detroit, MI
- El Paso, TX
- Eugene, OR
- Everett, WA
- Fayetteville, AR
- Fort Myers, FL
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Fort Worth, TX
- Fresno, CA
- Gainesville, FL
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Greensboro, NC
- Hartford, CT
- Honolulu, HI
- Houston, TX
- Huntsville, AL
- Indianapolis, IN
- Irvine, CA
- Jacksonville, FL
- Jersey City, NJ
- Kansas City, MO
- Knoxville, TN
- Las Vegas, NV
- Lexington, KY
- Little Rock, AR
- Long Beach, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Louisville, KY
- Lubbock, TX
- Madison, WI
- Memphis, TN
- Miami, FL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New Orleans, LA
- New York, NY
- Oakland, CA
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Olympia, WA
- Orlando, FL
- Peoria, IL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, ME
- Portland, OR
- Raleigh, NC
- Reno, NV
- Richmond, VA
- Rochester, NY
- Sacramento, CA
- Saint Louis, MO
- Saint Paul, MN
- Saint Petersburg, FL
- Salem, OR
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Santa Barbara, CA
- Santa Rosa, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Spokane, WA
- Springfield, MO
- Syracuse, NY
- Tacoma, WA
- Tallahassee, FL
- Tampa, FL
- Toledo, OH
- Tucson, AZ
- Tulsa, OK
- Vancouver, WA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Washington, DC
- West Palm Beach, FL
- Wichita, KS
RESTAURANTS
The prices of eating out in Raleigh are somewhat lower than the norm: for example, an average restaurant meal is around 20$ per person, while a meal in an inexpensive one is around 21$.
There are all sorts of restaurants, from the very top quality to the cheaper ones, and all types of ethnic foods are available.
MARKETS
The downtown area has more restaurants and bars than stores, so those living in the city center still lack certain close access to services or grocery stores.
The price of groceries in Raleigh seem reasonable as well.
A week’s worth of groceries for a family of four amounts up to about $200.
TRANSPORTATION
Raleigh unfortunately has a bit of poor urban planning – which means: no trains, highways are congested, lack of sidewalks and bicycle lanes.
Gas is about 3$ a gallon and as for public transport, the prices are relatively low: a one-way ticket by public transport is around 1.25$ while a monthly pass is 77$.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Including electricity, water, garbage, heating and cooling, basic monthly utilities don’t cost as much as they do in some other cities and they really don’t take up a lot of the people’s salaries.
For an apartment around 85m2 (which is definitely bigger than a usual apartment for one or two people), these will cost you 260$ approximately.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Raleigh has lovely green spaces and beautiful trees and flowers so there are many outdoor opportunities if you want to stay fit and exercise in nature.
A membership at the gym or a fitness club can’t go by without you cashing out around 62$, while movie lovers will pay a somewhat cheaper price than in some other cities in North Carolina – around 13.50$ per person for a cinema ticket.
CLOTHING & SHOES
Cameron Village is the first shopping center between Atlanta and DC, and today is a major destination point.
Here, you can shop until you drop and you’ll find anything that comes to your mind.
The shopping center leaves a little to be desired as well.
If you want a pair of Levi’s, it will cost you around 60$, though.
Quality sneakers cost around 95$.
RENT PER MONTH
If you want to live in a single-bedroom apartment, the rent would be somewhere between 1550$-1900$.
If you prefer to take a two-bedroom apartment and share the apartment with another person, the cost would be less compared to taking a single-bedroom apartment all for yourself.
The rent of two-bedroom apartments is considerably higher: from 1500$-2500$.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Raleigh, NC
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $21.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $6.50 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $2.27 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $0.94 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $3.99 |
| Eggs (12) | $4.33 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $2.25 |
| Monthly Pass | $76.50 |
| Gasoline | $1.03 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $260.77 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.18 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $79.38 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $62.00 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $21.6 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $13.50 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $61.03 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $48.7 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $95.53 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $1937.32 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $1520.14 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $3806.12 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Raleigh, NC?
An average citizen of Raleigh spends most of his or her money on food, in markets and grocery stores.
As we mentioned, you can count on 200$ a week going on food, if you have a family and not living as a student.
Next on the list of biggest expenses in Raleigh is rent – which is a huge financial responsibility.
Restaurants and transportation go side by side like in most countries – though restaurants don’t need to be pricey if you choose food economically.
Finally, the last on the list is, as per usual, clothing and sports.
Average Costs Breakdown
Raleigh, NC: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Raleigh has a very high concentration of young, educated people, and companies are quickly recognizing the talent that exists here.
The city offers low living expenses and a great environment for young people to start their careers in industries that are rapidly changing and growing.
Their monthly average net salary is around 4400$, which basically means that, for the most part, people that live here can manage their salary so they can pay everything up front, live comfortably, and not worry about making ends meet.
The minimum wage in Raleigh is around 1200$.
Raleigh Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Raleigh Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
