Living Cost Compare
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,490/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,130/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 $2,130 in Washington, DC. Overall, Raleigh, NC is roughly 30% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $82,424 in Raleigh, NC and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 22% higher in Washington, DC. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Raleigh, NC
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,301
$1,763
+36% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,323
$1,885
+42% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,462
$1,949
+33% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,715
$2,249
+31% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$377,800
$724,600
+92% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$82,424
$106,287
+29% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,990
$71,060
+37% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
34.9 yr
+0.2 yr in Washington, DC
Homeownership
51.2%
41.1%
+10.1 pp in Raleigh, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
52.9%
63.6%
+10.7 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
23.4 min
30.3 min
+6.9 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
491.5
936
+90% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
2,838
3,627.1
+28% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+2.4°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
46.0 in
39.7 in
+6.3 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.30/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
$2.00
+60% in Washington, DC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.0
25.0
+56% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.50
$18.01
+3% in Washington, DC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.16
$4.16
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.73
$1.73
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.56
$6.56
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.61
$0.61
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / DC)
4.75%
6%
+1.3 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
10.75%
+6.8 pp in DC

Raleigh vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Raleigh or Washington?
Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,490 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 30% below Washington, DC's $2,130, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Raleigh than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Raleigh versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Raleigh or Washington?
Raleigh is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).