$100k salary, packing up from Chicago
changea dispatch from
raleigh
NC
35.78°N
78.64°W
Raleigh is the third leg of the Research Triangle, full of oaks (its nickname is the City of Oaks), state museums that are all free, and a downtown that's grown up fast without losing its quiet edges. NC State pumps young energy in, the food scene is sneaky-good, and the surrounding pine forests make summer evenings smell incredible. Beaches are two hours east, mountains three hours west.
in our guides
the verdict
below Chicago's monthly cost
The gap is real. Raleigh costs noticeably less than Chicago, every month.
a quick ledger.
$1,663/mo
23% cheaper than Chicago(vs $2,170/mo)
4.5%
$38/mo less in state tax than Chicago
vs 4.95% in Chicago
$6,295/mo
$544 more than Chicago
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$440k
21% more expensive than Chicago
vs $365k in Chicago
1.5M
vs 9.3M in Chicago
field notes, weather & such.
201
pleasant days a year, in raleigh.
Chicago only manages 153 of those.
Chicago hosts 27.6× more events.
58/100
17% lower than Chicago
vs 70/100 in Chicago
Closest outdoor draw: William B. Umstead State Park, 9.9 mi.
97/100
3% lower than Chicago
vs 100/100 in Chicago
39
82% fewer than Chicago
vs 217 nonstops in Chicago
neighbors of raleigh on the map of tradeoffs:
