Raleigh, NC at a glance
Median household income
$85,395$7,116 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Raleigh, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Raleigh, NC? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,524 | $18,288 | $60,960 | 21.4% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,596 | $19,152 | $63,840 | 22.4% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,750 | $21,000 | $70,000 | 24.6% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,196 | $26,352 | $87,840 | 30.9% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,936 | $35,232 | $117,440 | 41.3% |
What a typical income covers in Raleigh, NC
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $85,395 a year ($7,116 a month before tax).
What $85,395 leaves after North Carolina taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and North Carolina tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in North Carolina
Living in Raleigh, NC: common questions
What is the median household income in Raleigh, NC?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Raleigh, NC is $85,395 per year (approximately $7,116 per month).
What is the average rent in Raleigh, NC?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,524 for a studio, $1,596 for one bedroom, $1,750 for two, $2,196 for three and $2,936 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Raleigh, NC expensive to live in?
Prices there run 1.8% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 98.2, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Raleigh, NC?
To keep a $1,750 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $70,000 a year, or $5,833 a month. That is 82% of what the typical household in Raleigh, NC earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Raleigh, NC?
On the local median income of $85,395 ($7,116 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,558 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,135 for everything else and $1,423 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,750 takes 49% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Raleigh, NC?
Homes in North Carolina paid 14.7¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $133. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.