Is it cheaper to live in Paterson or Raleigh?

Paterson, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Paterson or Raleigh?

Paterson 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).

Paterson vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Paterson, NJ versus $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Paterson, NJ is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,766 in Paterson, NJ and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 35% 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.

Paterson, NJ

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$786

$1,301

+66% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,323

+12% in Raleigh, NC

2 Bedroom

$1,468

$1,462

+0% in Paterson, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,729

$1,715

+1% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$335,400

$377,800

+13% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income

$53,766

$82,424

+53% in Raleigh, NC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,430

$51,990

+15% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.3 yr

34.7 yr

+1.4 yr in Raleigh, NC

Homeownership

26.2%

51.2%

+25.0 pp in Raleigh, NC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

12.5%

52.9%

+40.4 pp in Raleigh, NC

Avg Commute

23.1 min

23.4 min

+0.3 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,010.1

491.5

+51% in Paterson, NJ

Property Crime

2,391.4

2,838.4

+19% 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

52.2°F

60.6°F

+8.4°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

49.0 in

46.0 in

+3.0 in in Paterson, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/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)

24.9

14.7

+41% in Paterson, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.68

$30.10

+70% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Paterson, NJ

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Paterson, NJ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Raleigh, NC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Paterson, NJ

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Paterson, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Paterson, 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

Paterson vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Paterson or Raleigh?: Paterson, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Paterson than in Raleigh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Paterson versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Paterson or Raleigh?: Paterson 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).