Moving from New York to Raleigh
A typical worker keeps $14,802 more a year in Raleigh than in New York City, after taxes, rent and everyday costs. To keep the same as a typical New York City salary of $61,430, you'd need about $32,600 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 $14,802 more a year in Raleigh than in New York City.
- Typical salary
- $61,430
- Federal income tax
- −$5,192
- Payroll taxes
- −$4,996
- State income tax
- −$2,720
- Local income tax
- −$1,946
- Rent, 1-bedroom
- −$35,112
- Everyday costs
- −$20,134
a year ($723 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.
| New York City | Raleigh | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (US = 100)12.8% cheaper | 112.6 | 98.2 |
| Rent, studio$1,254 less | $2,781 | $1,527 |
| Rent, 1-bedroom$1,336 less | $2,926 | $1,590 |
| Rent, 2-bedroom$1,457 less | $3,188 | $1,731 |
| Food$67 less | $544 | $477 |
| Transportation$53 less | $430 | $377 |
| Healthcare$27 less | $373 | $346 |
| Utilities$99 less | $331 | $232 |
| Monthly total, 1-bedroom$1,583 less | $4,604 | $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 | New York City | Raleigh |
|---|---|---|
| Typical worker$14,802 more | $61,430 | $51,990 |
| Registered nurse$2,377 more | $119,720 | $84,830 |
| Teacher$1,903 less | $98,208 | $59,938 |
| Accountant$8,852 more | $105,650 | $81,950 |
| Software engineer$6,766 more | $166,830 | $132,770 |
| Truck driver$12,345 more | $65,040 | $52,110 |
| Nursing assistant$14,020 more | $49,270 | $39,710 |
| Medical assistant$19,581 more | $48,370 | $46,160 |
| Lawyer$19,843 less | $208,880 | $131,920 |
| Civil engineer$20,768 more | $107,330 | $101,440 |
| Project manager$9,930 more | $126,660 | $102,280 |
Taxes
Taxes on the same salary, $61,430 (a typical New York City wage), in each city. Single filer, 2026.
| New York City | Raleigh | |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income taxNo change | $5,192 | $5,192 |
| Payroll taxes$297 less | $4,996 | $4,699 |
| State income tax$778 less | $2,720 | $1,942 |
| Local income tax$1,946 less | $1,946 | $0 |
| Total$3,021 less | $14,854 | $11,833 |
Living there
Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
| New York City | Raleigh | |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income$3,832 more | $81,228 | $85,060 |
| Median home value$328,300 less | $778,600 | $450,300 |
| Unemployment rate3.3 pts lower | 6.9% | 3.6% |
| Working from home9.3 pts higher | 12.5% | 21.8% |
Moving to Raleigh
People also compare
Questions people ask
Is it cheaper to live in Raleigh than New York City?
Yes: prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the US average, against 13% above the US average in the New York City area (BEA, 2024). A 1-bedroom rents for $1,590 a month in Raleigh and $2,926 in New York City.
How much more is rent in New York City?
HUD's FY2027 fair market rent for a 1-bedroom is $1,336 a month (84%) higher in New York City: $1,590 in Raleigh against $2,926 in New York City.
How much do I need to earn in Raleigh to keep the same as in New York City?
A typical worker in New York City earns $61,430. To keep the same amount after taxes, a 1-bedroom rent and everyday costs, you'd need about $32,600 in Raleigh.
Will I pay more tax in Raleigh?
North Carolina taxes wages, and New York taxes wages. On a typical New York City salary of $61,430, total income and payroll taxes come to $11,833 in Raleigh and $14,854 in New York City.
Do people keep more money in Raleigh or New York City?
A typical worker keeps $14,802 more a year in Raleigh than in New York City: $6,132 in Raleigh against −$8,670 in New York City, 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