Raleigh, NC vs Austin, TX: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Austin, TX and Raleigh, NC are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Raleigh works out to about $74,900 in Austin, before taxes.
- Housing is 16.3% higher in Austin, goods 3.0% lower and other services 2.0% lower, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,603 a month in Austin and $1,669 in Raleigh, $792 a year less in Austin (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $414,000 in Austin and $428,000 in Raleigh.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Austin was 3.9% more expensive than Raleigh.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Raleigh and Austin
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Raleigh, NC
- Austin, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Raleigh, NC | Austin, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.2 | 98.1 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 93.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 103.5 | 120.4 |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 82.0 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 96.2 |
| Category | Raleigh | Austin | Austin vs Raleigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 98.2 | 98.1 | −0.1% |
| Goods | 96.6 | 93.8 | −3.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 103.5 | 120.4 | +16.3% |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 82.0 | −7.8% |
| Other services | 98.2 | 96.2 | −2.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,669 | $1,603 | −4.0% |
| Typical home value | $428,000 | $414,000 | −3.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Raleigh | $75,000 | $74,900 | −0.1% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Raleigh and Austin has narrowed since 2008: 2.6 points then, 0.1 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Raleigh, NC
- Austin, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Raleigh, NC | Austin, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.0 | 99.6 |
| 2009 | 95.9 | 98.9 |
| 2010 | 97.2 | 99.8 |
| 2011 | 98.3 | 100.3 |
| 2012 | 98.0 | 100.9 |
| 2013 | 97.9 | 100.8 |
| 2014 | 98.4 | 101.4 |
| 2015 | 98.3 | 101.6 |
| 2016 | 99.3 | 102.6 |
| 2017 | 98.4 | 101.8 |
| 2018 | 96.9 | 99.0 |
| 2019 | 95.6 | 99.4 |
| 2020 | 95.4 | 101.1 |
| 2021 | 97.6 | 100.0 |
| 2022 | 98.3 | 98.8 |
| 2023 | 98.4 | 98.3 |
| 2024 | 98.2 | 98.1 |
Goods
- Raleigh, NC
- Austin, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Raleigh, NC | Austin, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.4 | 97.1 |
| 2009 | 95.4 | 95.2 |
| 2010 | 97.0 | 96.6 |
| 2011 | 97.0 | 96.9 |
| 2012 | 97.2 | 97.3 |
| 2013 | 97.1 | 97.3 |
| 2014 | 97.4 | 97.6 |
| 2015 | 96.5 | 97.0 |
| 2016 | 97.2 | 97.2 |
| 2017 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2018 | 95.7 | 94.4 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 96.2 |
| 2020 | 95.4 | 96.2 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2022 | 95.6 | 93.7 |
| 2023 | 96.8 | 92.9 |
| 2024 | 96.6 | 93.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Raleigh, NC
- Austin, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Raleigh, NC | Austin, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.7 | 110.0 |
| 2009 | 92.0 | 111.7 |
| 2010 | 91.6 | 108.1 |
| 2011 | 94.4 | 110.3 |
| 2012 | 92.9 | 115.2 |
| 2013 | 94.1 | 114.7 |
| 2014 | 95.4 | 117.7 |
| 2015 | 95.2 | 119.2 |
| 2016 | 96.3 | 122.7 |
| 2017 | 97.3 | 124.9 |
| 2018 | 96.8 | 121.9 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 121.5 |
| 2020 | 96.2 | 124.5 |
| 2021 | 97.0 | 122.5 |
| 2022 | 104.4 | 126.3 |
| 2023 | 104.0 | 126.4 |
| 2024 | 103.5 | 120.4 |
Utilities
- Raleigh, NC
- Austin, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Raleigh, NC | Austin, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 87.6 | 99.7 |
| 2009 | 87.8 | 94.4 |
| 2010 | 89.7 | 95.0 |
| 2011 | 89.3 | 90.2 |
| 2012 | 90.5 | 88.5 |
| 2013 | 90.4 | 89.9 |
| 2014 | 90.9 | 93.3 |
| 2015 | 90.7 | 90.8 |
| 2016 | 87.6 | 86.8 |
| 2017 | 83.8 | 82.7 |
| 2018 | 87.0 | 84.1 |
| 2019 | 89.4 | 85.7 |
| 2020 | 87.9 | 85.8 |
| 2021 | 84.9 | 85.8 |
| 2022 | 83.0 | 87.4 |
| 2023 | 83.8 | 89.2 |
| 2024 | 89.0 | 82.0 |
Other services
- Raleigh, NC
- Austin, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Raleigh, NC | Austin, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.8 | 98.5 |
| 2009 | 98.2 | 98.1 |
| 2010 | 99.7 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 101.2 | 100.8 |
| 2012 | 100.8 | 100.7 |
| 2013 | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| 2014 | 100.6 | 100.3 |
| 2015 | 101.1 | 101.0 |
| 2016 | 102.3 | 102.3 |
| 2017 | 100.5 | 100.5 |
| 2018 | 98.3 | 97.7 |
| 2019 | 95.8 | 96.9 |
| 2020 | 95.5 | 99.3 |
| 2021 | 99.6 | 98.1 |
| 2022 | 99.7 | 96.7 |
| 2023 | 98.7 | 95.8 |
| 2024 | 98.2 | 96.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,603 in Austin vs $1,669 in Raleigh
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Raleigh, NC
- Austin, TX
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Raleigh, NC | Austin, TX | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,059 | $1,179 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,083 | $1,204 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,086 | $1,215 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,087 | $1,212 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,096 | $1,223 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,122 | $1,251 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,123 | $1,249 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,114 | $1,236 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,135 | $1,266 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,164 | $1,285 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,166 | $1,277 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,158 | $1,270 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,184 | $1,286 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,205 | $1,312 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,209 | $1,322 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,201 | $1,327 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,219 | $1,348 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,247 | $1,370 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,251 | $1,386 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,252 | $1,381 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,270 | $1,401 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,272 | $1,383 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,290 | $1,383 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,297 | $1,374 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,321 | $1,425 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,405 | $1,533 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,489 | $1,660 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,511 | $1,671 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,542 | $1,705 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,606 | $1,774 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,638 | $1,788 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,606 | $1,730 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,625 | $1,744 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,646 | $1,748 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,650 | $1,717 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,616 | $1,683 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,623 | $1,671 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,648 | $1,682 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,643 | $1,650 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,624 | $1,610 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,641 | $1,617 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,651 | $1,626 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,646 | $1,592 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,625 | $1,563 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,642 | $1,577 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,655 | $1,598 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,669 | $1,603 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $414,000 in Austin vs $428,000 in Raleigh
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Raleigh, NC
- Austin, TX
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Raleigh, NC | Austin, TX | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $222K | $258K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $225K | $263K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $229K | $268K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $234K | $274K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $239K | $279K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $242K | $284K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $246K | $287K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $250K | $291K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $254K | $295K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $258K | $298K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $261K | $299K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $264K | $303K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $269K | $306K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $272K | $308K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $275K | $310K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $279K | $313K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $283K | $314K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $285K | $316K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $287K | $319K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $291K | $325K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $295K | $333K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $298K | $337K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $303K | $346K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $314K | $365K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $326K | $394K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $344K | $454K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $369K | $483K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $390K | $494K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $417K | $530K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $447K | $565K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $449K | $545K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $438K | $516K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $431K | $494K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $435K | $486K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $439K | $482K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $440K | $473K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $443K | $468K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $447K | $465K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $446K | $460K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $446K | $457K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $444K | $450K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $440K | $440K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $436K | $433K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $434K | $429K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $433K | $423K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $430K | $415K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $428K | $414K | $366K |
More about each city
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.