What Is the Cost of Living in Raleigh, NC?

If you’re thinking about living somewhere new, it’s easy to be immediately drawn to Raleigh’s southern hospitality, mild climate, and bustling nightlife. But before diving in and moving to Raleigh, NC, on a whim, you’ll want to do a bit of research to find out more about what kind of impact this relocation might have on your wallet. 

It may be helpful to know that, generally speaking, the cost of living in Raleigh, NC, is 5% lower than the national average. But keep reading if you’d like a closer look at the specific breakdown of costs for living expenses like: 

• Rent and utilities
• Groceries and dining
• Sports and leisure activities
• Transportation

Let’s start planning your budget! 

Housing costs, rent, and utilities

Since it can often seem like so much of your weekly or monthly living expenses go toward covering the cost of rent and utilities, you’ll be pleased to know that this North Carolina city comes in below the national average in this area. When it comes to real estate, you’ll find that housing, specifically, runs about 30% lower than average, and utilities are about 4% less than what others are paying per month across the country.

How much exactly you pay in your monthly rent will likely depend on the neighborhood you live in. For those interested in nestling among residents in the top-tier districts or metro area, you’ll need to shell out a bit more. Here’s an overview of a few of the premium neighborhoods in Raleigh, NC: 

• Glenwood: $2,037 (one-bedroom average)
• Warehouse District: $1,908 (one-bedroom average)
• Capital District: $1,665 (one-bedroom average)
• North Central: $1,638 (one-bedroom average)
• Glenwood South: $1,521 (one-bedroom average)

The good news about living in this city is that you can still live in a trendy, attractive, and family-friendly part of the city without having to break the bank. However, current reports do show that the cost of rent is on the rise, so if you’ve been considering relocating to the city, now’s the time to do so. 

If you’d prefer to stay budget-conscious without sacrificing the quality of life, take a look at some of these more affordable, up-and-coming neighborhoods for renters:

• Olde East Raleigh: $910 (one-bedroom average)
• South Central Raleigh: $910 (one-bedroom average)
• Oakwood Park: $930 (one-bedroom average)
• Cameron Village: $948 (one-bedroom average)
• Hillsborough: $952 (one-bedroom average)

Other essential items to consider when building your budget are things like water, electricity, gas, trash, and recycling. Keep in mind that costs will fluctuate depending on usage, but an average monthly bill for utilities could reach around $161 per month.

Food and entertainment

Living in this exciting city isn’t just about finding the right place to live at the right price. It’s about going out and exploring every inch of it, whether that’s by sampling all of the culinary flavors, updating your wardrobe at nearby shops, or booking a show at the local theater. Here’s an overview of the average costs of food and entertainment expenses in this North Carolina city: 

Groceries and dining

If you’re just stocking up on groceries for the week, you may find that getting everything that’s on your shopping list will cost you a bit more than it would elsewhere. The cost of groceries around Wake County is 13% higher than the national average. Here’s what you can expect as you calculate your grocery expenses:

• Loaf of bread: $3.77
• Gallon of milk: $2.20
• Carton of eggs: $2.05
• Bunch of bananas: $3.80

If you’re not in the mood for cooking and would prefer to eat out, there are several affordable restaurants with a wide variety of culinary offerings in the North Carolina capital. The best restaurants in Raleigh, NC, are famed for serving the best southern food. But before you order, take a look at what you can expect to pay for meals at the following types of restaurants:

• A quick bite on your way through a fast-food restaurant will cost around $8 per person on average.

• A sit-down meal at an average-priced restaurant may cost around $12 per person. 

• Dinner or lunch at a midpoint restaurant could cost about $20 per person.

Sports and leisure

If you’re a movie buff and are planning to catch the release of a movie featuring your favorite actor, plan a night out with friends or family at the theater. The cost of a movie ticket in the Raleigh area tends to be around $10 per person, a bit lower than other cities in North Carolina beyond Wake County.

For gym-going Raleigh residents, you can check out the weight room, treadmills, and class offerings at several fitness centers. The cost of a gym membership in Raleigh is around $35 per month. If you’re moving to an apartment complex, you can also check to see if there is an onsite fitness center, which can cut back on your gym membership costs.

Transportation

Raleigh, NC, is considered primarily a driving city, so you may find that people get around more often by cars and trucks than they would public transportation or bike. Thanks to GoRaleigh, however, you do have access to buses with around 35 different routes. So, there are routes you can take whether you’re going to downtown Raleigh or North Raleigh. One-way fares could cost around $1.25 per person, while a monthly pass will go for about $45. 

Rideshare services are another option for residents looking to leave their vehicles at home. Look to platforms like Lyft and Uber or a local taxi to get you from point A to B. 

Fun things to do in Raleigh for free

The best things in life are free, right? The excitement of exploring along with the joy of building new friendships certainly isn’t something you can put a price tag on. But you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that there are a number of fun things to do in Raleigh that are free of charge. 

Put your wallet away and plan a day in this North Carolina city. Here’s what to include on the itinerary:

• Spend the day kayaking at Lake Johnson Park. With more than 150 acres of space, there’s plenty of room for paddling, boating, and fishing. If water sports don’t interest you, no problem. There are plenty of paved and unpaved trails for hiking, biking, and running. Plus, it’s a pet-friendly park, so be sure to bring your pup along for some exploring, too. 

• Visit the Raleigh museums. If you had a nickel for every time you could get into a Raleigh museum for free, you could buy this NC city itself. This is a slight exaggeration, perhaps, but there really are a number of must-see museums that don’t cost you a dime to enter. From the City of Raleigh Museum to the North Carolina Museums of Natural Sciences and History, you’ve got plenty of ways to pass the time on a rainy day. 

• Go bloom-hunting at the Raleigh Municipal Rose Garden. You may be interested in booking tickets to a show at the infamous Raleigh Little Theater, but before curtains open, be sure to spend some time at the nearby Raleigh Municipal Rose Garden. Come during the spring months to catch more than 60 varieties of roses in bloom. 

• Stock your bookshelves at the James B. Hunt Jr. Library. Whenever you’ve got the feeling that your bookshelf could use an update, head on over to the James B. Hunt. Jr. library. Let the BookBot, an artificially intelligent robot with a knack for librarianship, help you locate whatever is at the top of your reading list. Architecture aficionados will also be impressed by the sleek design that’s brimming with glass and zig-zag angles. 

• Tour the North Carolina State Capitol. Since you’re living in a state capital, you’ve got access to a wide variety of historical monuments and government offices concentrated right in your own backyard. Take a free tour of the Greek Revival-style building that dates back to 1840 and learn more about the state government and history of North Carolina.

• Rock out at a free music series event. You can find an assortment of paid concerts featuring popular artists at venues like the Walnut Creek Amphitheatre, but there’s also a fair share of free concert series. Keep an eye on the local calendars to find free live music events at places like North Hills and the Raleigh Times Bar. 

• Try your hand at disc golf. Get some fresh air and test your accuracy with a frisbee by visiting the Buckhorn Disc Golf Course. Head on over to Holly Springs and you’ll find a disc golf course that’s not exactly designed with beginners in mind. It’s a challenging yet addictive circuit that’ll keep you entertained without costing you a penny. 

Landing: Flexible, cost-effective living in Raleigh, North Carolina

If you’re excited by the idea of living in different places around the country but still want to approach your adventures with a financially conscious mindset, consider finding an apartment in North Carolina with Landing. When you sign up to become a Landing member, you get access to thousands of fully-furnished apartments across the United States. What’s more, you won’t have to worry about paying extra rental fees or security deposits, and you get to decide the length of your stay in NC.

Start traveling and renting in North Carolina the right way—become a Landing member today! Browse our apartments in Raleigh-Durham here.