Hollywood vs Raleigh
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Hollywood
Raleigh
The Verdict
Raleigh is 8.8% less expensive than Hollywood overall. A household earning $75,000 in Hollywood would need approximately $68,919 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 Hollywood has the same purchasing power as $68,919 in Raleigh.
Conversely, $75,000 in Raleigh equals $81,618 in Hollywood.
Living in Hollywood vs Raleigh
Housing Costs
Hollywood's housing index of 130 is higher Raleigh's 107, translating to median home prices of $424,000 vs $370,000. The $54,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,516 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,725/mo in Hollywood compared to $1,500/mo in Raleigh, a monthly difference of $225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 104 in Hollywood and 100 in Raleigh. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $494/month in Hollywood vs $475/month in Raleigh. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in Hollywood and 94 in Raleigh. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Hollywood vs $376 in Raleigh. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 96 in Hollywood and 108 in Raleigh. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $60,300 in Hollywood and $67,266 in Raleigh. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $54,324 and $65,947 respectively. Raleigh residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,407/month to housing in Hollywood vs $1,570/month in Raleigh. In Hollywood, median rent of $1,725/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 23 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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