What is the average rent in Raleigh?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Raleigh city centre costs approximately USD 1,728 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to USD 1,281 (saving 26%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around USD 3,083.

Is Raleigh affordable to live in?

Raleigh is expensive by global standards. Groceries are average, restaurants are average, and local purchasing power is average.

🇺🇸 NC, United States · 2026

Cost of Living in Raleigh

Q: How expensive is Raleigh compared to the rest of United States?

Raleigh ranks #88 out of 577 cities globally. It is 4.7% cheaper than the United States average, based on 82 cities. The rent index is 37.2 and local purchasing power is 154.4.

4.7% below the United States average

Ranked #88 of 577 cities · More expensive than 84.7% of cities worldwide

-4.7%

Cost of Living

-9.9%

Rent

-4.4%

Groceries

+7.1%

Purchasing Power

Compared to United States average · See United States ranking →

Rent Prices in Raleigh

Apartment	City Centre	Outside Centre	You Save
1-Bedroom	USD 1,728/mo	USD 1,281/mo	26%
3-Bedroom	USD 3,083/mo	USD 2,012/mo	35%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Prices of Goods & Services in Raleigh

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	$5.05	2 sources
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)	$3.22	2 sources
Bread (500g)	$3.18	2 sources
Local cheese (1kg)	$13.69	2 sources
Chicken (1kg)	$10.49	2 sources
Cigarettes (Marlboro)	$8.48	2 sources
Eggs (12)	$4.43	2 sources
Milk (1L)	$1.00	2 sources
Potatoes (1kg)	$2.43	2 sources
Tomatoes (1kg)	$5.25	2 sources
Water (1.5L)	$2.19	1 source
Wine (mid-range)	$15.00	2 sources

Apples (1kg)

$5.05

Beer (0.5L, supermarket)

$3.22

Bread (500g)

$3.18

Local cheese (1kg)

$13.69

Chicken (1kg)

$10.49

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

$8.48

Eggs (12)

$4.43

Milk (1L)

$1.00

Potatoes (1kg)

$2.43

Tomatoes (1kg)

$5.25

Water (1.5L)

$2.19

Wine (mid-range)

$15.00

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	$5.43	2 sources
Cappuccino	$6.27	2 sources
McMeal	$9.50	2 sources
Cheap meal	$20.00	2 sources
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	$82.00	2 sources

Draft beer (0.5L)

$5.43

Cappuccino

$6.27

McMeal

$9.50

Cheap meal

$20.00

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

$82.00

Clothing & Shoes

Item	Price	Sources
Business shoes (leather)	$121.45	2 sources
Jeans (Levi's 501)	$50.34	2 sources
Sport shoes (Nike)	$109.89	2 sources
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)	$75.03	2 sources

Business shoes (leather)

$121.45

Jeans (Levi's 501)

$50.34

Sport shoes (Nike)

$109.89

Summer dress (Zara/H&M)

$75.03

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	$15.00	2 sources
Gym membership	$53.89	2 sources

Cinema ticket

$15.00

Gym membership

$53.89

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	$0.79	2 sources
Taxi start	$3.00	1 source
Monthly pass	$52.00	2 sources

Gasoline (1L)

$0.79

Taxi start

$3.00

Monthly pass

$52.00

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Basic utilities (85m²)	$216.93	2 sources

Basic utilities (85m²)

$216.93

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★★ High Confidence

Raleigh has a cost of living index of 55.0 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 3 of 3 data sources.

55.0

Index

Sources

0.7

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

54.7

Expatistan

55.0

LivingCost

55.4

ShouldIMove price index

No data

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

View all 577 cities

Cost Indices

Cost of Living

-4.7% Average

Rent

-9.9% Affordable

Groceries

-4.4% Average

Restaurants

+5.9% Average

Purchasing Power

+7.1% Average

Living in Raleigh: What to Expect

Raleigh is expensive by global standards (ranked #88 of 577 cities). It is 4.7% cheaper than the United States average, based on 82 cities.

Groceries are average and dining out is average. The best value is rent and the priciest is restaurants.

Local purchasing power is strong: residents can afford more goods and services than in most cities.

Cost of Living in Raleigh

Rent Prices in Raleigh

Prices of Goods & Services in Raleigh

Groceries

Restaurants

Clothing & Shoes

Leisure

Transportation

Utilities

Multi-Source Comparison

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Cost Indices

Living in Raleigh: What to Expect

How Does Raleigh Compare?

Planning a Move to Raleigh?