Cost of Living: Boston vs Raleigh
Purchasing Power Parity: how far does your salary go in Boston compared to Raleigh?
In Boston, a salary of $100,000 is equivalent to about $74K in Raleigh. That means Raleigh offers 34% more spending power. Your money goes further in Raleigh.
Based on Numbeo cost of living indices. Full methodology.
Salary Converter
Equivalent salary needed in Raleigh
$74K
To maintain the same standard of living, you'd need $74K in Raleigh vs $100K in Boston
Boston
83.1
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
Raleigh
61.8
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
How They Compare
Raleigh is 26% cheaper than Boston
What Top Roles Earn Here
Real salary data for roles with earnings data in both Boston and Raleigh, adjusted for cost of living.
| Role | Boston median | Raleigh median | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $153K | $125K | Raleigh wins by 10% |
| Cloud Architect | $116K | $95K | Raleigh wins by 10% |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $141K | $115K | Raleigh wins by 9% |
| Data Scientists | $114K | $114K | Raleigh wins by 35% |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $122K | $94K | Raleigh wins by 4% |
Salary data from public records. Adjusted for cost of living using PPP ratio (0.74x). Methodology.
See real salary data
Check actual public salaries for these cities on RoleHue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:How much more does it cost to live in Boston vs Raleigh?
A: Boston is approximately 34% more expensive than Raleigh, based on Numbeo cost of living indices. A salary of $100,000 in Raleigh is equivalent to about $134K in Boston. However, actual costs vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation.
Q:What salary do I need in Boston to match $100,000 in Raleigh?
A: To maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Raleigh, you would need approximately $134K in Boston. This accounts for differences in housing, groceries, transportation, and other living expenses between the two cities.
Q:Are these cost of living differences accurate for everyone?
A: Cost of living indices provide a useful benchmark, but individual experiences vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation. The data comes from Numbeo's crowd-sourced cost of living database and reflects average spending patterns. Use the interactive calculator above to model your specific salary scenario.
Q:How do real salaries compare between Boston and Raleigh?
A: Based on 5 roles with salary data in both cities, Raleigh wins by 10% when adjusted for cost of living. See the role comparison table below for detailed breakdowns with links to full salary pages.
Related comparisons
Boston vs cities with a cost of living similar to Raleigh
Raleigh vs cities with a cost of living similar to Boston