Is it cheaper to live in Raleigh or Rochester?

Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% 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 $34,000 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 New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Raleigh vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/mo est.

Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $82,424 in Raleigh, NC and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 43% higher in Raleigh, NC. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Raleigh, NC

Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio

$1,301

$750

+42% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$1,323

$857

+35% in Raleigh, NC

2 Bedroom

$1,462

$1,114

+24% in Raleigh, NC

3 Bedroom

$1,715

$1,240

+28% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$377,800

$120,600

+68% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income

$82,424

$46,628

+43% in Raleigh, NC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,990

$51,210

+2% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

33.5 yr

+1.2 yr in Raleigh, NC

Homeownership

51.2%

37.2%

+14.0 pp in Raleigh, NC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

52.9%

29.9%

+23.0 pp in Raleigh, NC

Avg Commute

23.4 min

18.9 min

+4.5 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

491.5

690

+40% in Rochester, NY

Property Crime

2,838.4

3,533.4

+24% in Rochester, NY

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

48.2°F

+12.4°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

46.0 in

34.3 in

+11.8 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$4.04/gal

+5% in Rochester, NY

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

29.9

+98% in Rochester, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.56

$22.74

+17% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rochester, NY

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Rochester, NY

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Raleigh, NC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Rochester, NY

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Rochester, NY

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Rochester, NY

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / NY)

4.75%

+0.8 pp in NC

Income Tax (top rate)

3.99%

10.90%

+6.9 pp in NY

Raleigh vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Raleigh or Rochester?: Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% 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 $34,000 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 New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).