Median rent is 10% lower in Raleigh ($1,572/mo vs $1,738/mo). Buying is cheaper in Raleigh, where the median home runs $415,800 versus $580,200. Households earn more in Cary ($134,905 vs $85,395 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (98.4).
City A
Cary, NC
City B
Raleigh, NC
How much would you need to earn in Raleigh, NC to maintain your standard of living from Cary, NC?
Equivalent salary in Raleigh, NC
$75,000
Costs are about the same in both cities.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Cary
North Carolina
Raleigh
North Carolina
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Raleigh at $1,572/mo compared to $1,738/mo in Cary (10% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Cary: the median home is $580,200 versus $415,800 in Raleigh — 28% more expensive.
Metric
Cary
Raleigh
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Cary
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Raleigh
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Both cities have similar air quality: Cary averages 47.0 AQI (Good) and Raleigh averages 47.0 AQI (Good).
Pick Cary if you prioritize higher median household income ($134,905/yr).
Cary is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 98.4 versus 98.4 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Cary.
Median rent is $1,738/mo in Cary, NC and $1,572/mo in Raleigh, NC. Raleigh, NC has the lower rent by about 10%.
Median household income is $134,905 in Cary, NC and $85,395 in Raleigh, NC. Cary, NC has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Raleigh, NC has better air quality on average: 47.0 AQI versus 47.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Cary, NC is equivalent to roughly $100,000 in Raleigh, NC (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
