Quick answer
Raleigh is 49% cheaper than Boston overall. A $100K salary in Raleigh is equivalent to $149,000 in Boston.
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Raleigh vs Boston Cost of Living (2026)
Side-by-side cost comparison plus a salary calculator to find your equivalent pay in either city.
Overall COL difference
Raleigh is 49% cheaper
1BR rent difference
+76% (B vs A)
$100K in A = in B
$149,000
Raleigh vs Boston: Side-by-Side
1BR median rent
$1,480/mo
$2,600/mo
+76%
2BR median rent
$1,860/mo
$3,400/mo
+83%
Median home price
$420K
$720K
+71%
Avg monthly groceries
$350
$420
+20%
Avg monthly utilities
$145
$160
+10%
State income tax
4.5%
5%
Raleigh saves
Walk score
34/100
83/100
Boston better
Transit score
25/100
75/100
Boston better
Salary Equivalency Calculator
How much you need to earn in Boston to maintain the same standard of living as your current Raleigh salary — and vice versa.
$60,000
$89,000
$40,000
$80,000
$119,000
$54,000
$100,000
$149,000
$67,000
$120,000
$179,000
$81,000
$150,000
$223,000
$101,000
Calculated using a weighted index: rent (40%), home prices (20%), groceries (20%), utilities (10%), state income tax (10%). Individual lifestyles vary.
Monthly Budget: Raleigh vs Boston
Who Each City Is Best For
Raleigh is best for
- ✓tech workers
- ✓biotech / pharma professionals
- ✓researchers
- ✓young families
Boston is best for
- ✓biotech / pharma professionals
- ✓academics / researchers
- ✓healthcare workers
- ✓finance professionals
FAQs
Is Raleigh or Boston cheaper to live in?
Raleigh is 49% cheaper than Boston overall. Raleigh 1BR rent ($1,480/mo) vs Boston ($2,600/mo). Median home price: Raleigh $420K vs Boston $720K.
How much salary do I need in Boston to match $100K in Raleigh?
$149,000 in Boston is equivalent to $100,000 in Raleigh based on cost of living differences. The biggest factors are rent (+76% difference) and state taxes (Raleigh: 4.5% vs Boston: 5%).
What is the rent difference between Raleigh and Boston?
1BR: Raleigh $1,480/mo vs Boston $2,600/mo (+76%). 2BR: Raleigh $1,860/mo vs Boston $3,400/mo (+83%).
Does Raleigh or Boston have lower taxes?
Raleigh (NC) has 4.5% state income tax. Boston (MA) has 5% state income tax. On a $100K salary, the annual tax difference is ~$500.