Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Raleigh?

Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $53,000 in Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Raleigh?

Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Eugene vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Eugene, OR is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 23% higher in Raleigh, NC. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$1,011

$1,301

+29% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,323

+23% in Raleigh, NC

2 Bedroom

$1,411

$1,462

+4% in Raleigh, NC

3 Bedroom

$1,674

$1,715

+2% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$435,400

$377,800

+13% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$63,836

$82,424

+29% in Raleigh, NC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,680

$51,990

+5% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.4 yr

34.7 yr

+0.7 yr in Eugene, OR

Homeownership

47.6%

51.2%

+3.6 pp in Raleigh, NC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.2%

52.9%

+8.7 pp in Raleigh, NC

Avg Commute

18.6 min

23.4 min

+4.8 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

319.6

491.5

+54% in Raleigh, NC

Property Crime

3,348.9

2,838.4

+15% in Eugene, OR

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.5°F

60.6°F

+8.1°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

46.1 in

46.0 in

+0.1 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.09/gal

$3.86/gal

+24% in Eugene, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs GoRaleigh (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

15.1

+7% in Eugene, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.59

$27.56

+34% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Eugene, OR

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Eugene, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Raleigh, NC

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Eugene, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Eugene, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Eugene, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / NC)

None

4.75%

+4.8 pp in NC

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

3.99%

+5.9 pp in OR

Eugene vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Raleigh?: Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Raleigh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Raleigh?: Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).