$100k a year, no longer in Phoenix
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
the monthly cost of moving past Phoenix
Barely costlier than Phoenix. If Raleigh pulls you in, it's the life it offers, not the price tag.
a quick ledger.
$1,663/mo
4% cheaper than Phoenix(vs $1,739/mo)
4.5%
$167/mo more in state tax than Phoenix
vs 2.5% in Phoenix
$6,295/mo
$91 less than Phoenix
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$440k
4% cheaper than Phoenix
vs $458k in Phoenix
1.5M
vs 5.1M in Phoenix
field notes, weather & such.
201
pleasant days a year, in raleigh.
Phoenix only logs 181 pleasant days.
But the calendar thins out: Phoenix stays 4.2× busier.
58/100
12% lower than Phoenix
vs 66/100 in Phoenix
Closest outdoor draw: William B. Umstead State Park, 9.9 mi.
97/100
0% lower than Phoenix
vs 97/100 in Phoenix
39
57% fewer than Phoenix
vs 91 nonstops in Phoenix
if raleigh appeals, also worth a look:
