Charlotte vs Raleigh
Charlotte, NC · Raleigh, NC
Charlotte and Raleigh have similar costs of living.
Home Price
Charlotte: $365,000
Raleigh: $380,000
Monthly Rent
Charlotte: $1,595/mo
Raleigh: $1,131/mo
COL Index
Charlotte: 104
Raleigh: 105
Median Income
Charlotte: $68,600
Raleigh: $75,200
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Charlotte has the same purchasing power as $100,962 in Raleigh — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Raleigh are 4% cheaper (-$15,000 less). That's a significant down payment and monthly payment difference.
Renting
Renting in Raleigh saves you $464/month — $5,568 per year. Median rent: $1,595/mo in Charlotte vs $1,131/mo in Raleigh.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Charlotte owners pay roughly $2,884/year in property taxes vs $3,002/year in Raleigh. Rates are comparable.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $68,600 in Charlotte and $75,200 in Raleigh. Charlotte residents earn 10% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 27 minutes in Charlotte vs 25 minutes in Raleigh. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Charlotte to Raleigh, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Charlotte | Equivalent in Raleigh | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $50,481 | +$481 |
| $75,000 | $75,721 | +$721 |
| $100,000 | $100,962 | +$962 |
| $150,000 | $151,442 | +$1,442 |
| $200,000 | $201,923 | +$1,923 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
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Home Appreciation
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Charlotte Calculators
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Related Comparisons
Charlotte vs Raleigh: Common Questions
Is Charlotte or Raleigh cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Charlotte is cheaper overall. Charlotte has a COL index of 104 while Raleigh scores 105 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Charlotte and Raleigh?
The median home price in Charlotte is $365,000 vs $380,000 in Raleigh — a difference of $15,000 (4%).
What salary do I need in Raleigh to match my Charlotte income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Charlotte is equivalent to $100,962 in Raleigh in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Raleigh has a lower property tax rate (0.79% vs 0.79%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $2,884/year vs $3,002/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.