Is it cheaper to live in Raleigh or Rochester?

Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Raleigh versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Raleigh or Rochester?

Raleigh is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Raleigh vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,510 in Raleigh, NC versus $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $82,424 in Raleigh, NC and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 6% higher in Rochester, MN. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Raleigh, NC

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$1,301

$1,080

+17% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$1,323

$1,106

+16% in Raleigh, NC

2 Bedroom

$1,462

$1,243

+15% in Raleigh, NC

3 Bedroom

$1,715

$1,646

+4% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$377,800

$287,500

+24% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income

$82,424

$87,767

+6% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,990

$60,620

+17% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

36.4 yr

+1.7 yr in Rochester, MN

Homeownership

51.2%

65.4%

+14.2 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

52.9%

50.1%

+2.8 pp in Raleigh, NC

Avg Commute

23.4 min

17.2 min

+6.2 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

491.5

158.9

+68% in Raleigh, NC

Property Crime

2,838.4

1,379

+51% 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

60.6°F

45.4°F

+15.2°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

46.0 in

33.0 in

+13.0 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.95/gal

+2% in Rochester, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

16.9

+12% in Rochester, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.56

$14.95

+46% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rochester, MN

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Raleigh, NC

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Rochester, MN

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Rochester, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / MN)

4.75%

6.875%

+2.1 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

3.99%

9.85%

+5.9 pp in MN

Raleigh vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Raleigh or Rochester?: Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Raleigh than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Raleigh versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Raleigh or Rochester?: Raleigh is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).