on $100k a year, leaving Honolulu
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
under Honolulu, every month
Raleigh sits well below Honolulu on cost. Same paycheck, a noticeably lighter month.
a quick ledger.
$1,663/mo
42% cheaper than Honolulu(vs $2,843/mo)
4.5%
$542/mo less in state tax than Honolulu
vs 11% in Honolulu
$6,295/mo
$1,721 more than Honolulu
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$440k
58% cheaper than Honolulu
vs $1061k in Honolulu
1.5M
vs 989k in Honolulu
field notes, weather & such.
201
pleasant days a year, in raleigh.
Honolulu has the edge here, logging 316 pleasant days a year.
Lighter on events: Honolulu packs 2.0× more into a month.
58/100
5% higher than Honolulu
vs 55/100 in Honolulu
Closest outdoor draw: William B. Umstead State Park, 9.9 mi.
97/100
2% lower than Honolulu
vs 99/100 in Honolulu
39
24% fewer than Honolulu
vs 51 nonstops in Honolulu
if raleigh appeals, also worth a look:
