Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Raleigh?

Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Raleigh, NC's $1,490, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Raleigh?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $53,000 in Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Raleigh?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,370/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,490/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,370 in Arlington, TX versus $1,490 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Arlington, TX is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 11% higher in Raleigh, NC. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$1,301

+20% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,323

+12% in Raleigh, NC

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,462

+4% in Raleigh, NC

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,715

+6% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$377,800

+37% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$82,424

+12% in Raleigh, NC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$51,990

+1% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

34.7 yr

+1.1 yr in Raleigh, NC

Homeownership

54.8%

51.2%

+3.6 pp in Arlington, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

52.9%

+19.8 pp in Raleigh, NC

Avg Commute

26.7 min

23.4 min

+3.3 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

492.4

491.5

+0% in Arlington, TX

Property Crime

2,433.5

2,838

+17% in Raleigh, NC

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

60.6°F

+4.8°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

46.0 in

+6.4 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.96/gal

$4.30/gal

+9% in Raleigh, NC

Area: Texas vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs GoRaleigh (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

16.0

+2% in Arlington, TX

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.61

$17.50

+29% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.73

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / NC)

6.25%

4.75%

+1.5 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.99%

+4.0 pp in NC

Arlington vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Raleigh?: Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Raleigh, NC's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Raleigh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Raleigh?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).