Head to head
Houston, TX vs Raleigh, NC
Houston is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $44/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $4,500 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For a household of four, Raleigh is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and that spread is far steeper in some markets than others.
| Metric | Houston59 | Raleigh75 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $3,993 | $4,037 |
| Est. monthly cost (household of 4) | $7,739 | $7,682 |
| Salary for comfort | $70,000/yr | $74,500/yr |
| Typical rent | $1,573 | $1,750 |
| Median home value | $253,400 | $377,800 |
| Median household income | $62,894 | $82,424 |
| Unemployment | 4.5% | 3.1% |
| Housing score | 53 | 58 |
| Jobs score | 46 | 84 |
| Safety score | 4 | 59 |
| Climate score | 98 | 100 |
| Amenities score | 69 | 62 |
| Population | 2.3M | 470.8K |
| Summer high / winter low | 93° / 44° | 90° / 30° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Houston, TX
Raleigh, NC