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Raleigh
#11 of 124
North America

Raleigh

NC, United States

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Raleigh compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Raleigh is 15% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Raleigh compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$140,000
-$132K (-49%) vs San Francisco
Based on 552 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$93,100
-$79K (-46%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 34%

Community Insights

New

Raleigh offers a compelling value proposition for software engineers: a tier-2 tech hub salary with a lifestyle that, while getting more expensive, still allows for home ownership and savings. The area is defined by the Research Triangle Park (RTP), creating a professional environment that feels distinct from the actual city centers of Raleigh or Durham. It is a city in transition, suffering from growing pains like traffic and sprawl, but benefiting from a massive influx of talent and investment. Culturally, it is a "slow-paced" city that prioritizes work-life balance, outdoor hobbies, and breweries over high-energy urban living.

Resident Sentiment

Sentiment is mixed but generally positive for transplants, who often marvel at how much further their money goes and the friendliness of the people. However, there is a distinct undercurrent of tension: long-time residents often complain about "transplants ruining" the affordability and traffic, while some newcomers express disappointment at the lack of city amenities (like late-night food or robust transit). The consensus is that it's a "soft landing" spot—easy, comfortable, and safe, but perhaps lacking an "edge."

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Home Affordability

Top 8%

#10

of 124 cities

≈2.7 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Purchasing Power

Top 9%

#11

of 124 cities

Net Income

Top 18%

#22

of 124 cities

$93,100/yr

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Raleigh compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$3,107 / m²
69% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Raleigh to maintain the same standard of living.

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Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
37% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Raleigh

Google logo
Google
Red Hat logo
Red Hat
Cisco logo
Cisco
  • High purchasing power for tech workers: The combination of competitive tech salaries and a cost of living that, while rising, is still significantly lower than coastal hubs allows for a comfortable lifestyle.
  • Booming tech scene centered around Research Triangle Park (RTP): Access to major employers like Apple, Red Hat, and Lenovo, plus a growing startup ecosystem.
  • Family-friendly atmosphere: Abundance of parks, greenways, and generally good school districts make it attractive for engineers settling down.
  • Mild weather with distinct seasons: Residents enjoy relatively mild winters and plenty of sunshine, allowing for year-round outdoor activities.
  • Transplant-friendly community: Because so many people are moving from NY, CA, and other areas, it is socially easier to break in and find other newcomers looking for friends.
  • Outdoor access: easy proximity to both mountains and beaches (a few hours' drive each way) and extensive local trail systems.

The Bad

  • Car dependency is extreme: Public transportation is virtually non-existent or inefficient for daily commuting, making a car essential for life in Raleigh/RTP.
  • Traffic congestion: Infrastructure has not kept pace with the population explosion, leading to frustrating commutes, particularly on I-40 and around the RTP area.
  • Rising housing costs: The influx of tech workers is driving up home prices and rent, causing friction with locals and making the market competitive.
  • "Boring" nightlife: Often described as "sleepy" compared to major cities; the social scene revolves more around breweries and early dinners than late-night clubs or 24/7 culture.
  • Urban sprawl: The city is spread out, meaning you will likely spend a lot of time driving between distinct, separated neighborhoods rather than walking in a dense urban core.
  • Summer humidity: The heat and humidity in July and August can be oppressive for those not used to the Southern climate.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Remote workers or those looking to settle down and start a family will thrive here. If you are a software engineer tired of the "grind" in NYC or the exorbitant costs of the Bay Area, and you value space, greenery, and savings over walkability, Raleigh is ideal. It is perfect for those who are happy to trade a subway commute for a car ride and a night out at a club for a weekend hike or a brewery visit.

Skip it if...

You should not move here if you crave a dense, walkable urban environment or world-class nightlife. Young singles who rely on serendipitous social encounters or public transit will likely feel isolated and frustrated by the sprawl. Similarly, if you handle heat and humidity poorly or are looking for the cultural intensity and 24/7 energy of a global alpha city, Raleigh will feel "boring" and slow.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather6.5/10-25% vs San Francisco
Safety52+32%
Pollution38-23%
Events0-100%
6.5/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
22°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
Average Low
11°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
Sunshine Hours
2,606h/yr-455h/yr(-15%)
Hottest Month High
31°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
Coldest Month Low
1°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
Rainy Days
107/yr+59/yr(+121%)

Community & Quality

Raleigh community pulse

Raleigh has 0 Luma events listed.

100% fewer events than San Francisco.

Comfortable Weather

Top 27%

#34

of 124 cities

65/100 weather score

Current value

Pollution Score

Top 32%

#40

of 124 cities

38/100

Current value (lower is better)

Safety Index

Middle of the pack

#72

of 124 cities

52/100

Current value

Cost of Living

Middle of the pack

#77

of 124 cities

57/100

Current value (lower is better)

Tax Rate

Bottom 34%

#83

of 124 cities

34%

Current value (lower is better)

Community Events

Bottom 11%

#112

of 124 cities

0 events on luma

Current value

SWE Affordability
2.7 years
2.0 years quicker than San Francisco
Muggy Days
91/yr+90/yr(+45150%)
Cloud Cover
45%(vs 34% in San Francisco)