on $100k a year, leaving Seattle
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
lighter monthly cost than Seattle
Money-wise it's a wash. The case for Raleigh is everything that isn't rent.
a quick ledger.
$1,663/mo
24% cheaper than Seattle(vs $2,193/mo)
4.5%
$375/mo more in state tax than Seattle
vs 0% in Seattle
$6,295/mo
$155 more than Seattle
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$440k
44% cheaper than Seattle
vs $791k in Seattle
1.5M
vs 4.0M in Seattle
field notes, weather & such.
201
pleasant days a year, in raleigh.
Seattle only logs 182 pleasant days.
81% fewer events than Seattle. The pace eases up.
58/100
38% lower than Seattle
vs 93/100 in Seattle
Closest outdoor draw: William B. Umstead State Park, 9.9 mi.
97/100
1% lower than Seattle
vs 98/100 in Seattle
39
57% fewer than Seattle
vs 90 nonstops in Seattle
neighbors of raleigh on the map of tradeoffs:
