City comparison
Raleigh, NC vs York, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Raleigh, NC are 2.2% higher than in York, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in York, PA would need about $102,200 in Raleigh, NC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,596 a month in Raleigh, NC versus $1,060 in York, PA. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Raleigh, NC and 17% in York, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $411 a year higher in Raleigh, NC than in York, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +9.6% moving from Raleigh, NC to York, PA ($111,147 → $121,785), while prices change by −2.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +12.0% in real buying power.
- Raleigh, NC: price level 98.2 (about average)
- York, PA: price level 96.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Raleigh, NC | York, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.2 | 96.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,803 in York | $102,247 in Raleigh |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,596/mo | $1,060/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,990 | $48,170 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA and York-Hanover, PA MSA. Metro areas: Raleigh-Cary, NC and York-Hanover, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Raleigh | York |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 103.5 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 98.2 | 96.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Raleigh, NC → York, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$411/yr.
76 Strong offer
York, PA → Raleigh, NC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.2%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$411/yr.
61 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Raleigh, NC is in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC pay area; York, PA is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Raleigh, NC to York, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Raleigh, NC | York, PA | Real change, Raleigh → York |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,453 | $70,623 | +12.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,983 | $85,447 | +12.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,468 | $102,415 | +12.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,147 | $121,785 | +12.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,342 | $143,913 | +12.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Raleigh, NC | York, PA | York pay in Raleigh dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,170 | $79,730 | $81,521 (+35.5%) |
| Software Developers | $132,770 | $114,600 | $117,175 (−11.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $81,950 | $75,160 | $76,849 (−6.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,830 | $96,210 | $98,372 (+16.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.