City comparison
Albany, NY vs Raleigh, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albany, NY are 1.4% higher than in Raleigh, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Raleigh, NC would need about $101,400 in Albany, NY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,596 a month in Raleigh, NC versus $1,417 in Albany, NY. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Raleigh, NC and 23% in Albany, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,378 a year higher in Albany, NY than in Raleigh, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.2% moving from Albany, NY to Raleigh, NC ($109,810 → $111,147), while prices change by −1.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.7% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- Raleigh, NC: price level 98.2 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albany, NY | Raleigh, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 98.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,585 in Raleigh | $101,435 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $1,596/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $51,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Raleigh-Cary, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Raleigh |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 103.5 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 98.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Raleigh, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +1.4%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$1,378/yr.
73 Strong offer
Raleigh, NC → Albany, NY
Roughly even
Buying power −1.4%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$1,378/yr.
64 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Raleigh, NC is in Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Raleigh, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Raleigh, NC | Real change, Albany → Raleigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $64,453 | +2.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $77,983 | +2.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $93,468 | +2.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $111,147 | +2.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $131,342 | +2.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Raleigh, NC | Raleigh pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $60,170 | $61,034 (−23.0%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $132,770 | $134,676 (+5.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $81,950 | $83,126 (−1.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $84,830 | $86,048 (−13.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.