City comparison
Raleigh, NC vs Toledo, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Raleigh, NC are 7.3% higher than in Toledo, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Toledo, OH would need about $107,300 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 $820 in Toledo, OH. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Raleigh, NC and 13% in Toledo, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,514 a year higher in Raleigh, NC than in Toledo, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Raleigh, NC to Toledo, OH ($111,147 → $106,437), while prices change by −6.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.8% in real buying power.
- Raleigh, NC: price level 98.2 (about average)
- Toledo, OH: price level 91.5 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Raleigh, NC | Toledo, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.2 | 91.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,172 in Toledo | $107,328 in Raleigh |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,596/mo | $820/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,990 | $48,220 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA and Toledo, OH MSA. Metro areas: Raleigh-Cary, NC and Toledo, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Raleigh | Toledo |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 103.5 | 67.3 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 96.3 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 98.2 | 91.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Raleigh, NC → Toledo, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.3%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$1,514/yr.
92 Strong offer
Toledo, OH → Raleigh, NC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.8%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$1,514/yr.
47 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Raleigh, NC is in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC pay area; Toledo, OH is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Raleigh, NC to Toledo, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Raleigh, NC | Toledo, OH | Real change, Raleigh → Toledo |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,453 | $61,722 | +2.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,983 | $74,678 | +2.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,468 | $89,508 | +2.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,147 | $106,437 | +2.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,342 | $125,776 | +2.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Raleigh, NC | Toledo, OH | Toledo pay in Raleigh dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,170 | $63,250 | $67,885 (+12.8%) |
| Software Developers | $132,770 | $104,360 | $112,008 (−15.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $81,950 | $77,400 | $83,072 (+1.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,830 | $81,050 | $86,990 (+2.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.