Raleigh vs Vancouver
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Raleigh
Vancouver
The Verdict
Raleigh is 16.4% less expensive than Vancouver overall. A household earning $75,000 in Raleigh would need approximately $89,706 in Vancouver 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 Raleigh has the same purchasing power as $89,706 in Vancouver.
Conversely, $75,000 in Vancouver equals $62,705 in Raleigh.
Living in Raleigh vs Vancouver
Housing Costs
Raleigh's housing index of 107 is lower Vancouver's 163, translating to median home prices of $370,000 vs $525,000. The $155,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,080 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,500/mo in Raleigh compared to $1,650/mo in Vancouver, a monthly difference of $150.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Raleigh and 104 in Vancouver. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Raleigh vs $494/month in Vancouver. 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 94 in Raleigh and 87 in Vancouver. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Raleigh vs $348 in Vancouver. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Raleigh and 103 in Vancouver. 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 $67,266 in Raleigh and $79,300 in Vancouver. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,947 and $65,000 respectively. Raleigh residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,570/month to housing in Raleigh vs $1,850/month in Vancouver. In Raleigh, median rent of $1,500/mo fits within this budget. In Vancouver, median rent of $1,650/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 56 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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