Phoenix is about 5% less expensive than Raleigh overall - $100,000 in Raleigh is worth about $95,007 in Phoenix.
Housing costs in Phoenix and Raleigh are fairly close. The median home in Phoenix is $381,900 compared to $377,800 in Raleigh - a modest gap that won’t dominate your relocation math.
Renters see the same pattern. The typical apartment in Phoenix costs $1,458/month versus $1,468/month in Raleigh. But income matters too: the median household in Phoenix earns $77,041 and in Raleigh earns $82,424. That means rent swallows about 22.7% of median income in Phoenix and 21.4% in Raleigh.
Scale is another factor. Phoenix is a much larger metro (1,624,832 people) compared to Raleigh (470,763), which affects job market depth, commute times, and amenities.
Monthly cost breakdown: Phoenix 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 | Phoenix (rent) | Raleigh (rent) | Phoenix (own) | Raleigh (own) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $1,458 | $1,468 | $2,218 | $2,194 |
| Transportation | $1,088 | $1,106 | $1,088 | $1,106 |
| Food | $856 | $870 | $856 | $870 |
| Healthcare | $537 | $546 | $537 | $546 |
| Other | $1,910 | $1,942 | $1,910 | $1,942 |
| Total | $5,849 | $5,931 | $6,609 | $6,657 |
Scenario: who actually wins?
The Renter
If you rent a median apartment and keep other spending typical, your monthly nut in Phoenix is roughly $17,616 per year in rent alone - $120 more than in Raleigh. Add utilities, food, and transport and the annual gap widens. The crossover point: you need to earn about $95,007 in Phoenix to match $100,000 in Raleigh.
The First-Time Buyer
A 10% down payment on the median home costs $38,190 in Phoenix versus $37,780 in Raleigh. On a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.7%, the monthly P&I difference is roughly $24. Over five years, that’s $1,429 in extra (or saved) housing costs.
The Remote Worker
If your salary is locked to a national scale regardless of location, Raleigh is the obvious win. A $120,000 remote salary in Raleigh has the purchasing power of about $126,307 in Phoenix. 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 Phoenix earns roughly $115,562 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 Phoenix, that answer is harder.
Phoenix vs Raleigh: the numbers
| Metric | Phoenix | Raleigh | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living index (US=100) | 103 | 98 | -5% |
| Median rent | $1,458 | $1,468 | +1% |
| Median home value | $381,900 | $377,800 | -1% |
| Median household income | $77,041 | $82,424 | +7% |
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 Phoenix has the same buying power as about $95,007 in Raleigh. Going the other way, $100,000 in Raleigh is like $105,256 in Phoenix.
Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Phoenix and Raleigh.
Job market snapshot: Phoenix 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 | Phoenix | Raleigh | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $141,280 | $153,470 | +9% |
| Software Developer | $125,890 | $132,000 | +5% |
| Data Scientist | $109,500 | $126,950 | +16% |
| Project Manager | $64,490 | $100,050 | +55% |
| Physical Therapist | $99,600 | $90,400 | -9% |
| Mechanical Engineer | $98,430 | $99,560 | +1% |
Moving from Phoenix 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. Phoenix 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.