City comparison
Orlando, FL vs Raleigh, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Orlando, FL are 3.3% higher than in Raleigh, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Raleigh, NC would need about $103,300 in Orlando, FL to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,731 a month in Orlando, FL versus $1,596 in Raleigh, NC. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Orlando, FL and 25% in Raleigh, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Raleigh, NC than in Orlando, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.4% moving from Orlando, FL to Raleigh, NC ($106,437 → $111,147), while prices change by −3.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +7.9% in real buying power.
- Orlando, FL: price level 101.4 (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
| Orlando, FL | Raleigh, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.4 | 98.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,785 in Raleigh | $103,322 in Orlando |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,731/mo | $1,596/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,630 | $51,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC |
Rent areas: Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL MSA and Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA. Metro areas: Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL and Raleigh-Cary, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Orlando | Raleigh |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 123.4 | 103.5 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 87.2 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 101.4 | 98.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Orlando, FL → Raleigh, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.3%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
79 Strong offer
Raleigh, NC → Orlando, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.2%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
57 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Orlando, FL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Raleigh, NC is in Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC. The last column shows what a transfer from Orlando, FL to Raleigh, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Orlando, FL | Raleigh, NC | Real change, Orlando → Raleigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,453 | +7.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,983 | +7.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,468 | +7.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,147 | +7.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,342 | +7.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Orlando, FL | Raleigh, NC | Raleigh pay in Orlando dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,190 | $60,170 | $62,169 (+3.3%) |
| Software Developers | $129,620 | $132,770 | $137,181 (+5.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,630 | $81,950 | $84,673 (+7.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,550 | $84,830 | $87,648 (+4.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.