Hillsboro vs Raleigh
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hillsboro
Raleigh
The Verdict
Raleigh is 25.5% less expensive than Hillsboro overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hillsboro would need approximately $59,766 in Raleigh to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Hillsboro has the same purchasing power as $59,766 in Raleigh.
Conversely, $75,000 in Raleigh equals $94,118 in Hillsboro.
Living in Hillsboro vs Raleigh
Housing Costs
Hillsboro's housing index of 175 is higher Raleigh's 107, translating to median home prices of $533,000 vs $370,000. The $163,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,596 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,725/mo in Hillsboro compared to $1,500/mo in Raleigh, a monthly difference of $225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 108 in Hillsboro and 100 in Raleigh. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Hillsboro vs $475/month in Raleigh. Raleigh offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Hillsboro and 94 in Raleigh. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Hillsboro vs $376 in Raleigh. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 103 in Hillsboro and 108 in Raleigh. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $106,700 in Hillsboro and $67,266 in Raleigh. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $83,359 and $65,947 respectively. Hillsboro residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,490/month to housing in Hillsboro vs $1,570/month in Raleigh. In Hillsboro, median rent of $1,725/mo fits within this budget. In Raleigh, median rent of $1,500/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 68 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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