Median rent is 20% lower in Raleigh ($1,572/mo vs $1,954/mo). Buying is cheaper in Raleigh, where the median home runs $415,800 versus $737,100. Households earn more in Washington ($109,870 vs $85,395 a year). Taken together, Raleigh is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 98.4 against 109.5 — about 10% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Washington, DC.
Cost of living verdict
Raleigh is 10% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 98.4 in Raleigh vs 109.5 in Washington (US national average = 100)
City A
Raleigh, NC
City B
Washington, DC
How much would you need to earn in Washington, DC to maintain your standard of living from Raleigh, NC?
Equivalent salary in Washington, DC
$83,531
You'd need $8,531 more (11% higher).
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
Raleigh
North Carolina
Washington
District of Columbia
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 $1,954/mo in Washington (20% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Washington: the median home is $737,100 versus $415,800 in Raleigh — 44% more expensive.
Metric
Raleigh
Washington
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.
Raleigh
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Washington
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Washington has cleaner air on average: 24.0 AQI (Good) compared to 47.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Raleigh if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 98.4 vs 109.5).
Pick Washington if you prioritize higher median household income ($109,870/yr).
Pick Raleigh if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,572/mo median).
Pick Washington if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 24.0).
Raleigh is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 98.4 versus 109.5 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 10% lower in Raleigh.
Median rent is $1,572/mo in Raleigh, NC and $1,954/mo in Washington, DC. Raleigh, NC has the lower rent by about 20%.
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh, NC and $109,870 in Washington, DC. Washington, DC has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Washington, DC has better air quality on average: 24.0 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 Raleigh, NC is equivalent to roughly $111,375 in Washington, DC (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
