Popular cities
New York vs Raleigh cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐บ๐ธ New York
๐บ๐ธ Raleigh
At a glance
- Where Raleigh is clearly cheaper: Half-day tour (78%โ), Transit (58%โ), Studio rent (month) (58%โ)
- Where New York is clearly cheaper: Street food (29%โ), Laundry (25%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Both cities are about equally easy to travel. Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ New York 2 vs Raleigh 1. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | New York | Raleigh | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | $ 20$20 | $ 18$18 | Raleigh โ10% |
| Street food1 item | $ 10$10 | $ 14$14 | New York โ29% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | $ 55$55 | $ 40$40 | Raleigh โ27% |
| Coffeeone cup | $ 6$6 | $ 6$6 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | $ 9$9 | $ 6$6 | Raleigh โ33% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | $ 19$19 | $ 13$13 | Raleigh โ32% |
| Bottled water | $ 2$2 | $ 2$2 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | $ 3$3 | $ 2.5$2.5 | Raleigh โ17% |
| Taxi5 km in town | $ 23$23 | $ 14$14 | Raleigh โ39% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | $ 14$14 | $ 10$10 | Raleigh โ29% |
| Transitone ride | $ 3$3 | $ 1.25$1.25 | Raleigh โ58% |
| Scooter rentalper day | $ 68$68 | $ 35$35 | Raleigh โ49% |
| Hotel night3-star | $ 270$270 | $ 140$140 | Raleigh โ48% |
| Studio rent (month) | $ 3,300$3,300 | $ 1,400$1,400 | Raleigh โ58% |
| Laundry | $ 4.5$4.5 | $ 6$6 | New York โ25% |
| SIM card1 week data | $ 30$30 | $ 30$30 | similar |
| Haircutcut | $ 42$42 | $ 30$30 | Raleigh โ29% |
| Massage1 hour | $ 100$100 | $ 80$80 | Raleigh โ20% |
| Half-day tourper person | $ 80$80 | $ 18$18 | Raleigh โ78% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | $ 30$30 | $ 18$18 | Raleigh โ40% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, New York or Raleigh?
Raleigh is 43% cheaper than New York. Daily budget $467 vs $286; a month $10,297 vs $5,451.
Which is easier to travel, New York or Raleigh?
About the same: New York 1.6/5, Raleigh 1.6/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between New York and Raleigh?
With a short-term studio and living costs, New York is about $10,297 and Raleigh about $5,451 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.