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Raleigh vs San Francisco: which is cheaper?

Raleigh is 18% cheaperBased on official 2024 price levels from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

I need $70,670 in San Francisco to live the same way.

🏠 Rent per month
$1,822
$3,201
🛏️ 2-bedroom rent
$1,658
$3,312
💵 Families earn per year
$92,099
$152,036
🔑 Buying a house
$415,800
$1,394,500
📊 Overall prices (U.S. = 100)
98.2
115.6
🏛️ Property tax per year
$3,048
$9,862
⚡ Electric bill per month
$133
$104
👥 People living there
481,031
830,235
Commute to work
23 min
30.4 min
College degree
54%
60.3%
Own their home
50.7%
38.2%
Below poverty line
11.9%
11.2%
Unemployment
4.4%
6.1%

Bottom line

Pay for the same job

JobRaleighSan FranciscoDifference
Firefighter$45,640$113,700+149% in San Francisco
Registered Nurse$84,830$186,610+120% in San Francisco
Police Officer$65,860$132,000+100% in San Francisco
Carpenter$50,820$89,200+76% in San Francisco
Nurse Practitioner$128,150$219,080+71% in San Francisco
Elementary School Teacher$60,170$101,860+69% in San Francisco
Electrician$56,800$92,830+63% in San Francisco
Lawyer$131,920$212,500+61% in San Francisco

Frequently asked questions

Is Raleigh or San Francisco cheaper to live in?

Raleigh is about 18% cheaper overall. Rent is $1,822 a month there versus $3,201 in San Francisco.

What salary do I need in San Francisco to match $60,000 in Raleigh?

About $70,670 a year gives the same standard of living in San Francisco.

Where do people earn more, Raleigh or San Francisco?

The typical household earns $92,099 in Raleigh and $152,036 in San Francisco, 39% more in San Francisco.

More comparisons

All Raleigh comparisons → · All San Francisco comparisons →

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