San Diego vs Raleigh Cost of Living
Raleigh is approximately 17.4% cheaper than San Diego. See salary equivalence, taxes, and side-by-side breakdown.
San Diego, CA
Raleigh, NC
| Salary in San Diego | Equivalent in Raleigh | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $41,300 | -$8,700 (-17.4%) |
| $75,000 | $62,000 | -$13,000 (-17.3%) |
| $100,000 | $82,600 | -$17,400 (-17.4%) |
| $150,000 | $124,000 | -$26,000 (-17.3%) |
| $200,000 | $165,300 | -$34,700 (-17.4%) |
San Diego vs Raleigh: which is more affordable?
On an overall cost-of-living basis, Raleigh is 17.4% cheaper than San Diego. That means if you currently spend $5,000/month in San Diego, you'd spend approximately $4,132 for the same lifestyle in Raleigh. Or: $100,000 in San Diego ≈ $82,645 in Raleigh for equivalent purchasing power.
These multipliers are based on Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities and reflect average housing, food, transportation, and services costs. Real personal costs vary by neighborhood (urban core vs suburb), housing choice (rent vs own, apartment vs house), and lifestyle (frequency of dining out, car-dependent vs transit, etc.).
Tax differences
Both California and North Carolina levy state income taxes (typical effective rate ~5% at middle incomes). Tax burden is roughly comparable.
What costs more (and less) in Raleigh
Cost of living differences are driven mostly by housing — typically the biggest expense category. Raleigh's housing index (0.70×) compared to San Diego's (1.08×) is the dominant factor.
Food, groceries, and transportation typically vary 5–15% between metros — much less than housing. For a couple moving from San Diego to Raleigh, expect roughly:
- Rent / mortgage: -35% lower
- Groceries: -11% lower
- Transportation: -9% lower
- Healthcare, services: roughly proportional to overall index
Things this calculator can't fully capture
- Quality-of-life: weather, walkability, school quality, crime rates, commute times — not in the index.
- Career opportunities: a metro with higher cost-of-living often pays correspondingly higher salaries for the same role. See our salary calculator by job and city.
- Family situation: childcare, school district, eldercare costs vary independently of overall index.
- Lifestyle preferences: a frugal renter pays less than the index suggests; a property owner in a hot market might pay much more.
Related tools
San Diego Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home in San Diego. Raleigh Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home in Raleigh. Salary Calculator — hourly ↔ annual conversion. Inflation Calculator — purchasing power over time. Mortgage Calculator — what you can afford.