City Comparison

Boston, MA vs Raleigh, NC

Cost-of-living comparison, salary equivalence, housing costs, and tax differences.

Data last updated: July 25, 2026
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Side-by-Side Comparison

Boston, MA

COL Index140.0
Housing Index185.0
Median Salary$72,000
1BR Rent (avg)$2,500
3BR Rent (avg)$4,400
State/Prov Tax5.0%

Raleigh, NC

COL Index98.0
Housing Index105.0
Median Salary$61,000
1BR Rent (avg)$1,600
3BR Rent (avg)$2,800
State/Prov Tax4.8%

Salary Equivalence

Current Salary (Boston, MA)Equivalent in Raleigh, NCHousing-Adjusted
$50,000$35,000$28,378
$75,000$52,500$42,567
$100,000$70,000$56,756
$150,000$105,000$85,135
$200,000$140,000$113,513
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Key Differences

Overall COL Difference-30.0%
Housing Cost Difference-43.2%
1BR Rent Difference-36.0%
3BR Rent Difference-36.4%
Tax Rate Difference-0.3 pts

Related Comparisons

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