Cost of living in the Raleigh Metro Area
3 counties across NC. Population: 1,449,594.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Raleigh Metro Area
Average rent across the Raleigh-Cary metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Raleigh Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 3 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Raleigh Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Raleigh Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 3 counties in the Raleigh Metro Area
The Raleigh-Cary metro area includes 3 counties. Sorted by population.
- Raleigh NC$3,827/moPop1,151,009 Rent$1,592/mo Income$101,763/yrRaleigh NC 1,151,009 $1,592/mo $101,763/yr $3,827/mo
- Johnston County NC$3,724/moPop226,623 Rent$1,592/mo Income$79,838/yrJohnston County NC 226,623 $1,592/mo $79,838/yr $3,724/mo
- Franklin County NC$3,628/moPop71,962 Rent$1,592/mo Income$71,386/yrFranklin County NC 71,962 $1,592/mo $71,386/yr $3,628/mo
Compare counties in the Raleigh Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Raleigh Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Raleigh Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Raleigh-Cary metro area is approximately $3,801 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 3 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Raleigh Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Raleigh-Cary metro area is $1,592 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Raleigh Metro Area?
Franklin County, NC is the most affordable county in the Raleigh-Cary metro area at approximately $3,628 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Raleigh Metro Area?
Wake County, NC is the most expensive county in the Raleigh-Cary metro area at approximately $3,827 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Raleigh Metro Area?
The Raleigh-Cary metro area covers 3 counties. The five largest by population are Raleigh, Johnston County, Franklin County.
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About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.