Raleigh vs Topeka
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Raleigh
Topeka
💡 The Verdict
Topeka is 15% cheaper than Raleigh overall. A $75,000 salary in Raleigh is equivalent to $63,971 in Topeka.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Raleigh (left) vs Topeka (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Raleigh versus Topeka. Differences shown from Raleigh perspective.
| Item | Raleigh | Topeka | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,010/mo | $940/mo | +$70.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,500/mo | $1,470/mo | +$30.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,950/mo | $1,920/mo | +$30.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.89 | $2.02 | +$0.87 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.88 | $3.26 | +$0.62 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.31 | $2.40 | +$0.91 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.93 | $5.06 | +$0.87 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.37 | $3.29 | +$0.08 |
| Restaurant Meal | $18.36 | $18.44 | $-0.08 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Raleigh has the same purchasing power as $63,971 in Topeka.
Conversely, $75,000 in Topeka equals $87,931 in Raleigh.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
Both states have similar effective tax rates on this salary level. North Carolina details → · Kansas details →
Reading These Numbers: Raleigh (102) vs Topeka (87)
Raleigh at 102 is 2% above the US average, while Topeka at 87 is 13% below average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Raleigh, the composite index of 102 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 107, followed by groceries (100), utilities (94), transportation (100), and healthcare (108). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,500/mo in Raleigh and $1,470/mo in Topeka, the annual rent difference is approximately $360.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $1,800.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $47,000.0 difference in median home prices between Raleigh and Topeka translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
🔗 Related Tools
📚 Moving & Relocation Resources
Amazon affiliate links
CITY PROFILES
Making Your Decision: Raleigh vs Topeka
Choosing between Raleigh and Topeka involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
The cost gap between Raleigh and Topeka reflects thousands of individual pricing differences across housing markets, grocery chains, utility providers, and healthcare networks. No two households experience the same effective cost of living even in the same city, which is why the category breakdown matters more than the headline number. Adjust the lifestyle weighting sliders above to see how your spending priorities shift the comparison between these specific metros.