Raleigh is about 0% more expensive than Austin overall - $100,000 in Austin is worth about $100,093 in Raleigh.
Housing costs separate Austin and Raleigh more than any other category. The median home in Raleigh runs $377,800 versus $512,700 in Austin, a 26% gap that matters whether you’re buying now or saving for a future purchase.
Renters see the same pattern. The typical apartment in Raleigh costs $1,468/month versus $1,655/month in Austin. But income matters too: the median household in Austin earns $91,461 and in Raleigh earns $82,424. That means rent swallows about 21.7% of median income in Austin and 21.4% in Raleigh.
Both cities are similarly sized metros - Austin has 967,862 people and Raleigh has 470,763. That means comparable access to jobs, airports, and cultural amenities without the extremes of a mega-city.
Monthly cost breakdown: Austin vs Raleigh
These estimates use BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey shares scaled by each city’s cost-of-living index. Housing uses the city’s actual median rent; ownership uses a 6.7%, 30-year mortgage with 10% down on the median home.
| Category | Austin (rent) | Raleigh (rent) | Austin (own) | Raleigh (own) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,655 | $1,468 | $2,978 | $2,194 |
| Transportation | $1,226 | $1,106 | $1,226 | $1,106 |
| Food | $964 | $870 | $964 | $870 |
| Healthcare | $605 | $546 | $605 | $546 |
| Other | $2,153 | $1,942 | $2,153 | $1,942 |
| Total | $6,603 | $5,931 | $7,926 | $6,657 |
Scenario: who actually wins?
The Renter
If you rent a median apartment and keep other spending typical, your monthly nut in Raleigh is roughly $19,860 per year in rent alone - $2,244 more than in Austin. Add utilities, food, and transport and the annual gap widens. The crossover point: you need to earn about $100,093 in Raleigh to match $100,000 in Austin.
The First-Time Buyer
A 10% down payment on the median home costs $51,270 in Raleigh versus $37,780 in Austin. On a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.7%, the monthly P&I difference is roughly $783. Over five years, that’s $47,006 in extra (or saved) housing costs.
The Remote Worker
If your salary is locked to a national scale regardless of location, Austin is the obvious win. A $120,000 remote salary in Austin has the purchasing power of about $120,111 in Raleigh. The catch: some employers use location-based pay bands, which can erase part of that advantage.
The Family of Four
With two median incomes, a household in Austin earns roughly $137,192 and in Raleigh earns $123,636. After housing, the next biggest budget line is usually childcare and education - costs that vary less by city than housing does. The family math usually comes down to: can you afford the home you want on local salaries? In Raleigh, that answer is harder.
Austin vs Raleigh: the numbers
| Metric | Austin | Raleigh | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living index (US=100) | 98 | 98 | +0% |
| Median rent | $1,655 | $1,468 | -11% |
| Median home value | $512,700 | $377,800 | -26% |
| Median household income | $91,461 | $82,424 | -10% |
Cost of living = BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100). Rent, home value, and income from the U.S. Census ACS. See our methodology.
What your salary is worth
A $100,000 salary in Austin has the same buying power as about $100,093 in Raleigh. Going the other way, $100,000 in Raleigh is like $99,907 in Austin.
Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Austin and Raleigh.
Job market snapshot: Austin vs Raleigh
Highest-paying roles with available data. Median salary where BLS publishes one, otherwise the average - the median avoids skew from senior outliers, so it is preferred when present.
| Role | Austin | Raleigh | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $154,010 | $153,470 | -0% |
| Software Developer | $131,320 | $132,000 | +1% |
| Data Scientist | $111,760 | $126,950 | +14% |
| Physical Therapist | $102,720 | $90,400 | -12% |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,370 | $99,560 | -3% |
| Project Manager | $66,460 | $100,050 | +51% |
Moving from Austin to Raleigh: a practical checklist
Before you pack, run the numbers on these five items:
- Total compensation, not just base salary. Factor in bonuses, stock, 401(k) match, and remote-work stipends.
- Housing math for your situation. Rent vs. buy changes the winner. Use our calculator above to model both.
- State income tax. Austin and Raleigh are in different states, so your take-home pay will shift even if your gross salary stays flat. See our paycheck calculator for the exact difference.
- Commute and transportation. Gas, insurance, and tolls vary by metro. Check whether your new commute is longer or shorter.
- Healthcare network coverage. If you have employer-sponsored insurance, confirm your preferred doctors and hospitals are in-network in Raleigh.
Run these through our cost-of-living calculator with your actual salary to get a personalized answer.