Question 1

Is Arlington or Raleigh cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $53/month less than in Arlington, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,723/mo in Arlington versus $1,750/mo in Raleigh.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Arlington vs Raleigh?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $75,500/year before tax in Arlington, TX and $78,500/year in Raleigh, NC — a difference of about $3,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Arlington or Raleigh cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Raleigh, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $10,055/month in Arlington and $9,872/month in Raleigh, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Arlington or Raleigh?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Raleigh costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Arlington71	Raleigh75
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,277	$4,224
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$10,055	$9,872
Salary for comfort	$75,500/yr	$78,500/yr
Typical rent	$1,723	$1,750
Median home value	$276,400	$377,800
Median household income	$73,519	$82,424
Unemployment	4.7%	3.1%
Housing score	57	56
Jobs score	51	88
Safety score	65	59
Climate score	94	100
Amenities score	73	62
Population	394.8K	470.8K
Summer high / winter low	95° / 36°	90° / 31°

Arlington, TX vs Raleigh, NC