Cost of Living Comparison Between Raleigh, NC and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Raleigh, NC and Seattle, WA

🙂 Solo nomad: Raleigh, NC is 21.5% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 19.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Raleigh, NC is 23.7% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 28.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Raleigh, NC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.86 $19.86
$25.11 $25.11
-20.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.2 $74.2
$118 $118
-37.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.11 $10.11
$13.84 $13.84
-26.95%
Cappuccino
$5.37 $5.37
$5.8 $5.8
-7.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.95 $2.95
-20.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$2.51 $2.51
-18.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.74 $5.74
$7.81 $7.81
-26.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.13 $6.13
$7.84 $7.84
-21.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Raleigh, NC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.34 $1.34
-36.57%
White Bread (500g)
$4.01 $4.01
$4.98 $4.98
-19.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.18 $3.18
$5.35 $5.35
-40.56%
Eggs
$4.76 $4.76
$6.91 $6.91
-31.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.63 $13.63
$24.8 $24.8
-45.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.46 $11.46
$15.74 $15.74
-27.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.81 $16.81
$20.84 $20.84
-19.34%
Apples (1kg)
$6.72 $6.72
$6.05 $6.05
11.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 $1.47
$2.75 $2.75
-46.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.77 $5.77
$5.47 $5.47
5.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.31 $6.31
$6.45 $6.45
-2.17%
Potato (1kg)
$3.67 $3.67
$3.11 $3.11
18.01%
Onion (1kg)
$4.21 $4.21
$3.69 $3.69
14.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.2 $2.2
$2.78 $2.78
-20.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.52 $2.52
-10.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.42 $7.42
$11.64 $11.64
-36.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.77 $14.77
$17.15 $17.15
-13.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.94 $2.94
-30.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$4.19 $4.19
-28.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Raleigh, NC
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.8 $2.8
-27.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.36 $45.36
$101 $101
-55.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.68 $2.68
-8.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.65 $1.65
5.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.73 $14.73
$30.13 $30.13
-51.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.8 $0.8
$1.16 $1.16
-31.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K $29.8K
$33.3K $33.3K
-10.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$26.3K $26.3K
0.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Raleigh, NC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$185 $185
$271 $271
-31.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.9 $63.9
$61.8 $61.8
3.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.2 $70.2
$75.2 $75.2
-6.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Raleigh, NC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.69 $40.69
$78.4 $78.4
-48.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.1 $34.1
$41.04 $41.04
-16.91%
Cinema Ticket
$15.2 $15.2
$15.89 $15.89
-4.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Raleigh, NC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,492 $1,492
$2,248 $2,248
-33.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.5K $24.5K
$29K $29K
-15.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Raleigh, NC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.8 $51.8
$69.5 $69.5
-25.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.69 $48.69
$52.5 $52.5
-7.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.6 $98.6
$120 $120
-17.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142 $142
$142 $142
-0.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Raleigh, NC
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,828 $1,828
$2,376 $2,376
-23.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,539 $1,539
$1,829 $1,829
-15.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,992 $2,992
$4,702 $4,702
-36.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,400 $2,400
$3,474 $3,474
-30.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,093 $3,093
$6,928 $6,928
-55.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,505 $2,505
$5,224 $5,224
-52.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Raleigh, NC
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,392 $4,392
$6,473 $6,473
-32.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
6.42
1.71%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Raleigh, NC: October 29, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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