on $100k a year, leaving San Francisco
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 San Francisco's monthly cost
Raleigh sits well below San Francisco on cost. Same paycheck, a noticeably lighter month.
a quick ledger.
$1,663/mo
47% cheaper than San Francisco(vs $3,146/mo)
4.5%
$400/mo less in state tax than San Francisco
vs 9.3% in San Francisco
$6,295/mo
$1,883 more than San Francisco
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$440k
64% cheaper than San Francisco
vs $1239k in San Francisco
1.5M
vs 4.6M in San Francisco
field notes, weather & such.
201
pleasant days a year, in raleigh.
San Francisco has the edge here, logging 312 pleasant days a year.
82% fewer events than San Francisco. The pace eases up.
58/100
30% lower than San Francisco
vs 83/100 in San Francisco
Closest outdoor draw: William B. Umstead State Park, 9.9 mi.
97/100
2% lower than San Francisco
vs 99/100 in San Francisco
39
65% fewer than San Francisco
vs 111 nonstops in San Francisco
cities that play in raleigh's register:
