Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Raleigh?

Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Newark versus $53,000 in Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Newark or Raleigh?

Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Newark vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ versus $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,416 in Newark, NJ and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 41% higher in Raleigh, NC. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Newark, NJ

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$1,111

$1,301

+17% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$978

$1,323

+35% in Raleigh, NC

2 Bedroom

$1,386

$1,462

+5% in Raleigh, NC

3 Bedroom

$1,695

$1,715

+1% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$337,800

$377,800

+12% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income

$48,416

$82,424

+70% in Raleigh, NC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,430

$51,990

+15% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.8 yr

34.7 yr

+0.1 yr in Newark, NJ

Homeownership

24.1%

51.2%

+27.1 pp in Raleigh, NC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

17.4%

52.9%

+35.5 pp in Raleigh, NC

Avg Commute

33.2 min

23.4 min

+9.8 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

582.5

491.5

+16% in Newark, NJ

Property Crime

1,961.8

2,838.4

+45% 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

54.9°F

60.6°F

+5.7°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

46.3 in

46.0 in

+0.2 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.3

15.1

+35% in Newark, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.93

$27.56

+73% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Newark, NJ

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Newark, NJ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Raleigh, NC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Newark, NJ

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Newark, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Newark, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / NC)

6.625%

4.75%

+1.9 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

3.99%

+6.8 pp in NJ

Newark vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Raleigh?: Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Raleigh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Newark versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Raleigh?: Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).