Question 1

Is Denver or Raleigh cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $434/month less than in Denver, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $2,089/mo in Denver versus $1,750/mo in Raleigh.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Denver vs Raleigh?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $84,000/year before tax in Denver, CO and $74,500/year in Raleigh, NC — a difference of about $9,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Denver or Raleigh cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Raleigh, the same answer as for a single person. A four-person household runs about $8,304/month in Denver and $7,682/month in Raleigh, with rent scaled to household size using each city's own bedroom spread.

Question 4

Should I move to Denver 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	Denver57	Raleigh75
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,471	$4,037
Est. monthly cost (household of 4)	$8,304	$7,682
Salary for comfort	$84,000/yr	$74,500/yr
Typical rent	$2,089	$1,750
Median home value	$586,700	$377,800
Median household income	$91,681	$82,424
Unemployment	3.8%	3.1%
Housing score	32	58
Jobs score	41	84
Safety score	35	59
Climate score	93	100
Amenities score	64	62
Population	713.7K	470.8K
Summer high / winter low	92° / 20°	90° / 30°

Denver, CO vs Raleigh, NC