Moving from Boston to Raleigh
A typical worker keeps $5,739 more a year in Raleigh than in Boston, after taxes, rent and everyday costs. To keep the same as a typical Boston salary of $66,620, you'd need about $44,500 in Raleigh.
What your job keeps in each city
Pick a job to compare local pay, or enter one salary to see what the move alone changes.
A typical worker keeps $5,739 more a year in Raleigh than in Boston.
- Typical salary
- $66,620
- Federal income tax
- −$5,826
- Payroll taxes
- −$5,403
- State income tax
- −$3,111
- Rent, 1-bedroom
- −$32,292
- Everyday costs
- −$19,595
a year, or $33 a month
- Typical salary
- $51,990
- Federal income tax
- −$4,059
- Payroll taxes
- −$3,977
- State income tax
- −$1,566
- Rent, 1-bedroom
- −$19,080
- Everyday costs
- −$17,176
a year, or $511 a month
Pay: BLS OEWS metro estimates. Rent: HUD FY2027. Taxes: 2026 federal, state and local schedules, single filer.
Change cities or job: compare any two cities or states at three pay levels.
At a glance
A typical worker in each city: where the money goes, pay, costs and price levels. The tables on this page have every figure.
Cost of living side by side
Monthly costs for one person. Green means the move saves money; red means it costs more.
| Boston | Raleigh | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (US = 100)9.3% cheaper | 108.3 | 98.2 |
| Rent, studio$1,070 less | $2,597 | $1,527 |
| Rent, 1-bedroom$1,101 less | $2,691 | $1,590 |
| Rent, 2-bedroom$1,480 less | $3,211 | $1,731 |
| Food$15 less | $492 | $477 |
| Transportation$12 less | $389 | $377 |
| Healthcare$19 less | $365 | $346 |
| Utilities$155 less | $387 | $232 |
| Monthly total, 1-bedroom$1,303 less | $4,324 | $3,021 |
Salaries
Median pay for the same job in each metro, and how the move changes what you keep: the typical worker and the 10 jobs we cover with the most workers in the Raleigh-Cary, NC area. The calculator above has all 40.
| Job | Boston | Raleigh |
|---|---|---|
| Typical worker$5,739 more | $66,620 | $51,990 |
| Registered nurse$3,313 more | $106,180 | $84,830 |
| Teacher$8,240 less | $97,515 | $59,938 |
| Accountant$5,315 more | $100,150 | $81,950 |
| Software engineer$3,083 less | $166,090 | $132,770 |
| Truck driver$7,775 more | $64,010 | $52,110 |
| Nursing assistant$10,603 more | $47,590 | $39,710 |
| Medical assistant$13,169 more | $50,740 | $46,160 |
| Lawyer$14,485 less | $183,350 | $131,920 |
| Civil engineer$13,368 more | $107,670 | $101,440 |
| Project manager$9,177 more | $114,990 | $102,280 |
Taxes
Taxes on the same salary, $66,620 (a typical Boston wage), in each city. Single filer, 2026.
| Boston | Raleigh | |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income taxNo change | $5,826 | $5,826 |
| Payroll taxes$307 less | $5,403 | $5,096 |
| State income tax$962 less | $3,111 | $2,149 |
| Local income taxNo change | $0 | $0 |
| Total$1,268 less | $14,340 | $13,072 |
Living there
Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
| Boston | Raleigh | |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income$12,731 less | $97,791 | $85,060 |
| Median home value$272,500 less | $722,800 | $450,300 |
| Unemployment rate1.2 pts lower | 4.8% | 3.6% |
| Working from home6.3 pts higher | 15.5% | 21.8% |
Moving to Raleigh
People also compare
Questions people ask
Is it cheaper to live in Raleigh than Boston?
Yes: prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the US average, against 8% above the US average in the Boston area (BEA, 2024). A 1-bedroom rents for $1,590 a month in Raleigh and $2,691 in Boston.
How much more is rent in Boston?
HUD's FY2027 fair market rent for a 1-bedroom is $1,101 a month (69.2%) higher in Boston: $1,590 in Raleigh against $2,691 in Boston.
How much do I need to earn in Raleigh to keep the same as in Boston?
A typical worker in Boston earns $66,620. To keep the same amount after taxes, a 1-bedroom rent and everyday costs, you'd need about $44,500 in Raleigh.
Will I pay more tax in Raleigh?
North Carolina taxes wages, and Massachusetts taxes wages. On a typical Boston salary of $66,620, total income and payroll taxes come to $13,072 in Raleigh and $14,340 in Boston.
Do people keep more money in Raleigh or Boston?
A typical worker keeps $5,739 more a year in Raleigh than in Boston: $6,132 in Raleigh against $393 in Boston, after taxes, rent and everyday costs.
Sources and method
Everyday costs: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2024 (one-person households) × CPI-U to August 2026 × BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
- Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 population estimates
- Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates
- BLS OEWS May 2025, metropolitan area estimates
- HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents, FY2027
- BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys 2024, Table 1400 (size of consumer unit)
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U)
- BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2024
- FCC National Broadband Map, fixed broadband availability (data as of December 31, 2025, released 2026-09-29)
- FMCSA Carrier - All With History (operating authority and insurance)
Data compiled October 13, 2026. How we calculate