Cost of Living in Raleigh
Cost of living is an important factor when deciding where to settle. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources available to review prices of goods and services across cities. In this section, we’ll analyze the most current cost of living statistics for Raleigh.
Overall Cost of Living
The overall cost of living in Raleigh is 7% lower than the national average. This includes housing, food and transportation expenses. The median monthly rent for a two bedroom apartment in Raleigh is about $1,000. This is slightly below the national average rent of $1,092 for a two bedroom unit.
Grocery Prices
The average cost of groceries in Raleigh is higher than the national average by 5%. However there are still plenty of affordable grocery stores located around town. For instance your basic items such as gallon of milk, loaf of bread and dozen eggs would cost around $6.
Transportation
Raleigh’s public transportation system is made up of buses and trains. The GoRaleigh system operates public buses throughout the city with fares ranging from $1.50 to $3.00 depending on the route. The city also has nine train stations on the Capital Area Transit Train service, with ticket prices ranging from $2-$6 depending the distance traveled. The cost to own a car in Raleigh is slightly higher than the national average due to registration fees and gas prices.
Utilities
The average cost for utilities in Raleigh such as electricity, water and internet ranges from $100-$170 per month depending on usage and your provider. This cost is slightly higher than the national average of $104 per month. Overall, the cost of living in Raleigh is comparable to other cities in the U.S., but slightly lower than surrounding cities like Durham and Chapel Hill.
Job Market in Raleigh
One of the most important measure of quality of life is whether or not there is a healthy job market in the area. Fortunately, Raleigh has one of the strongest job markets in North Carolina and beyond. According to Forbes, Raleigh ranks first in “job growth”, “best places for business and careers”, and “education quality” among other big cities in North Carolina. Raleigh’s job market continues to grow at an impressive rate. The area currently has an unemployment rate of 2.4%, much lower than the 3.7% national average (as per June 2019 data from FRED) . This means that employment opportunities are plentiful in Raleigh, with a wide variety of industries from healthcare to IT being represented by big employers in the area. Major employers in Raleigh include companies such as IBM, SAS Institute, Verizon Wireless, Blue Cross Blue Shield NC and WakeMed Health & Hospitals NC State University. These organizations employ thousands of people employed in Raleigh with salary ranges based on their job roles and titles Furthermore, numerous companies are headquartered in Raleigh such as Lulu Egames; Brooks Corporation; Stratus Technologies; Lulu Productions; Cisco Systems Ltd; Immunization Corporation; Capital Holding Corporation; Cree Inc., among many others. All these companies offer great job opportunities not only to experienced professionals but also interns attempting to break into certain industries or build their resumes before jumping into the workforce full-time.
Education & Schools in Raleigh
Historically known as a college town due to its proximity to Research Triangle Park (RTP) in Durham, Raleigh continues to be a top educational hub for residents in the area due to its base of universities, colleges and other educational centers such as museums and research institutes spread out throughout its metropolitan area. Some of the notable educational institutions include NC State University (NCSU), Wake Technical Community College (WTCC), Meredith College and Shaw University among others across universities, colleges and trade schools. The public school system provides elementary school education through twelve grades; Preschool (prekindergarten) through fifth grade are provided by local elementary schools while sixth through twelfth grades are offered by local middle schools and high schools forming part of the Wake County Public School System (WCPS). Privately funded schools also exist like Ravenscroft School providing education from pre-kindergarten until twelfth grade while Grace Christian School provides prekindergarten through eighth grade education services among others. Additionally ,after-school services are offered by several organizations such as Communities In Schools North Carolina (CISNC) and Durham Public Library After-School Program which offer assistance in education including academic support , mentorship and other community related activities targeted at children aged five to seventeen years old (these programs often focus on children from underprivileged backgrounds). This means that there is access to excellent educational system both public and private that cater to diverse needs in terms of budget, proximity and curriculum –equipped educators are available to equip students ranging from preschool until university education giving everyone an equal opportunity regardless their financial standing or social backgrounds.
Entertainment & Recreation
Raleigh offers plenty to do when it comes to entertainment & recreation activities. Sports fans can take advantage of professional teams such as the Carolina Hurricanes hockey team and the minor-league baseball team the Durham Bulls -or watch college teams at NC State University or Meredith College . Music lovers can check out various venues across town hosting live music from local bands or headlining acts from around the world . The historic city of Raleigh also offers museum & gallery exhibits showcasing various forms of art . Local parks provide ample opportunity for outdoor activities from jogging , fishing & cycling among others . Other popular attractions include Exploreum Crossing –for those seeking out theatres , screenings & digital tutorials on 3D printing & robotics -or Pullen Park for rides , carnivals & outdoor concerts during summer months . For those looking for nightlife , meanwhile , North Hills has some trendy restaurants & bars hosting one-off events while Glenwood South provides more laidback vibes with traditional pubs & live music . With plentiful resources nationwide & many favorable rave reviews , there is something for everyone’s taste in Raleigh . Raleigh is fast becoming one of the most desirable cities to live in North America due its countless offerings -from an array employment opportunities complimented by its strong education system , entertainment & recreational options and lower than average cost of living –making it an attractive destination for those professionals or families looking for a new home . Whoever you may be , it’s worth looking into what this dynamic city can offer !
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