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.

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

Levnadskostnader i Raleigh

4.7% under United States-genomsnittet

Placering #88 av 577 städer · Dyrare än 84.7% av städerna i världen

-4.7%

Levnadskostnader

-9.9%

Hyra

-4.4%

Livsmedel

+7.1%

Köpkraft

Jämfört med United States-genomsnittet · Se United States-ranking →

Hyrespriser i Raleigh

Lägenhet	Innerstad	Utanför centrum	Du sparar
1 rum	USD 1,728/mo	USD 1,281/mo	26%
3 rum	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

Kostnadsindex

Levnadskostnader

-4.7% Average

Hyra

-9.9% Affordable

Livsmedel

-4.4% Average

Restauranger

+5.9% Average

Köpkraft

+7.1% Average

Att bo i Raleigh: vad du kan förvänta dig

Raleigh är expensive enligt globala mått (plats #88 av 577 städer). 4.7% billigare än United States-genomsnittet, baserat på 82 städer.

Matvaror är average, medan att äta ute är average. Rent erbjuder bäst värde, medan Restaurants är dyrast.

Den lokala köpkraften är stark: invånare har råd med fler varor och tjänster än i de flesta städer.