Is it cheaper to live in Raleigh or Seattle?

Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,490 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Seattle, WA's $2,020, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Raleigh versus $74,000 in Seattle.

Which has lower taxes, Raleigh or Seattle?

Raleigh is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Raleigh vs Seattle Cost of Living 2026

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,490/mo est.

Seattle

Washington

$2,020/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,490 in Raleigh, NC versus $2,020 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Raleigh, NC is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $82,424 in Raleigh, NC and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 32% higher in Seattle, WA. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Raleigh, NC

Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio

$1,301

$1,638

+26% in Seattle, WA

1 Bedroom

$1,323

$1,858

+40% in Seattle, WA

2 Bedroom

$1,462

$2,359

+61% in Seattle, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,715

$2,918

+70% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$377,800

$912,100

+141% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$82,424

$121,984

+48% in Seattle, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,990

$72,610

+40% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.7 yr

35.5 yr

+0.8 yr in Seattle, WA

Homeownership

51.2%

44.2%

+7.0 pp in Raleigh, NC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

52.9%

67.5%

+14.6 pp in Seattle, WA

Avg Commute

23.4 min

26.6 min

+3.2 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

491.5

787.3

+60% in Seattle, WA

Property Crime

2,838

5,107.9

+80% in Seattle, WA

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

53.5°F

+7.1°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

46.0 in

37.7 in

+8.3 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.30/gal

$5.77/gal

+34% in Seattle, WA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

$2.75

+120% in Seattle, WA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.0

14.4

+10% in Raleigh, NC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.50

$17.32

+1% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.37

+5% in Seattle, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$2.10

+21% in Seattle, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.25

+3% in Seattle, WA

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$7.23

+10% in Seattle, WA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.14

+12% in Seattle, WA

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.74

+21% in Seattle, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / WA)

4.75%

6.5%

+1.8 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.99%

None

+4.0 pp in NC

Raleigh vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Raleigh or Seattle?: Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,490 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Seattle, WA's $2,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Raleigh than in Seattle?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Raleigh versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Raleigh or Seattle?: Raleigh is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).