$100k salary, packing up from Philadelphia
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
less monthly outlay than Philadelphia
The gap is real. Raleigh costs noticeably less than Philadelphia, every month.
a quick ledger.
$1,663/mo
11% cheaper than Philadelphia(vs $1,869/mo)
4.5%
$193/mo less in state tax than Philadelphia
vs 6.82% in Philadelphia
$6,295/mo
$399 more than Philadelphia
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$440k
12% more expensive than Philadelphia
vs $393k in Philadelphia
1.5M
vs 6.2M in Philadelphia
field notes, weather & such.
201
pleasant days a year, in raleigh.
Philadelphia barely cracks 173 pleasant ones.
75% fewer events than Philadelphia. The pace eases up.
58/100
16% lower than Philadelphia
vs 69/100 in Philadelphia
Closest outdoor draw: William B. Umstead State Park, 9.9 mi.
97/100
3% lower than Philadelphia
vs 100/100 in Philadelphia
39
68% fewer than Philadelphia
vs 122 nonstops in Philadelphia
cities that play in raleigh's register:
