Is it cheaper to live in Raleigh or Salem?

Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (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 Salem?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Raleigh versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Raleigh or Salem?

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

Raleigh vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Salem, OR 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 $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 13% higher in Raleigh, NC. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Raleigh, NC

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,301

$1,075

+17% in Raleigh, NC

1 Bedroom

$1,323

$989

+25% in Raleigh, NC

2 Bedroom

$1,462

$1,337

+9% in Raleigh, NC

3 Bedroom

$1,715

$1,778

+4% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$377,800

$382,400

+1% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$82,424

$71,900

+13% in Raleigh, NC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,990

$55,310

+6% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

35.7 yr

+1.0 yr in Salem, OR

Homeownership

51.2%

55.7%

+4.5 pp in Salem, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

52.9%

31.4%

+21.5 pp in Raleigh, NC

Avg Commute

23.4 min

22.4 min

+1.0 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

491.5

540.6

+10% in Salem, OR

Property Crime

2,838.4

2,878.6

+1% in Salem, OR

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

53.0°F

+7.6°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

46.0 in

39.7 in

+6.4 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.09/gal

+32% in Salem, OR

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

16.3

+8% in Salem, OR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.56

$20.59

+25% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Salem, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Salem, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Raleigh, NC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Salem, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Salem, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Salem, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / OR)

4.75%

None

+4.8 pp in NC

Income Tax (top rate)

3.99%

9.90%

+5.9 pp in OR

Raleigh vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Raleigh or Salem?: Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (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 Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Raleigh versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Raleigh or Salem?: Raleigh is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).