Cost of Living: Los Angeles vs Raleigh
Purchasing Power Parity: how far does your salary go in Los Angeles compared to Raleigh?
In Los Angeles, a salary of $100,000 is equivalent to about $79K in Raleigh. That means Raleigh offers 27% more spending power. Your money goes further in Raleigh.
Based on Numbeo cost of living indices. Full methodology.
Salary Converter
Equivalent salary needed in Raleigh
$79K
To maintain the same standard of living, you'd need $79K in Raleigh vs $100K in Los Angeles
Los Angeles
78.6
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
Raleigh
61.8
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
How They Compare
Raleigh is 21% cheaper than Los Angeles
What Top Roles Earn Here
Real salary data for roles with earnings data in both Los Angeles and Raleigh, adjusted for cost of living.
| Role | Los Angeles median | Raleigh median | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $157K | $125K | roughly equal |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $159K | $115K | Los Angeles wins by 9% |
| Data Scientists | $119K | $114K | Raleigh wins by 23% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $237K | $160K | Los Angeles wins by 14% |
| Management Analysts | $156K | $80K | Los Angeles wins by 35% |
Salary data from public records. Adjusted for cost of living using PPP ratio (0.79x). Methodology.
See real salary data
Check actual public salaries for these cities on RoleHue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:How much more does it cost to live in Los Angeles vs Raleigh?
A: Los Angeles is approximately 27% more expensive than Raleigh, based on Numbeo cost of living indices. A salary of $100,000 in Raleigh is equivalent to about $127K in Los Angeles. However, actual costs vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation.
Q:What salary do I need in Los Angeles to match $100,000 in Raleigh?
A: To maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Raleigh, you would need approximately $127K in Los Angeles. This accounts for differences in housing, groceries, transportation, and other living expenses between the two cities.
Q:Are these cost of living differences accurate for everyone?
A: Cost of living indices provide a useful benchmark, but individual experiences vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation. The data comes from Numbeo's crowd-sourced cost of living database and reflects average spending patterns. Use the interactive calculator above to model your specific salary scenario.
Q:How do real salaries compare between Los Angeles and Raleigh?
A: Based on 5 roles with salary data in both cities, roughly equal when adjusted for cost of living. See the role comparison table below for detailed breakdowns with links to full salary pages.
Related comparisons
Los Angeles vs cities with a cost of living similar to Raleigh
Raleigh vs cities with a cost of living similar to Los Angeles