Relocation: Raleigh-Cary, NC to Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Data updated · Sources: HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology
Income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents and EPI living costs for a move from Raleigh-Cary, NC to Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX.
Interactive Purchasing Power Equivalency Workbench
Adjust your current salary at origin to dynamically compute the statutory tax burden, housing costs, and discretionary cash in both markets.
Raleigh-Cary, NC
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Itemized Cost of Living Expenditure Arbitrage
Category-by-category breakdown of monthly baseline consumption between origin and destination.
| Expenditure Category | Raleigh-Cary (Monthly) | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands (Monthly) | Monthly Delta ($) | Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1BR Fair Market Rent) | $1,552 | $1,261 | -$291 | -18.8% |
| Food & Groceries | $382 | $321 | -$61 | -16.0% |
| Transportation | $1,109 | $1,015 | -$94 | -8.5% |
| Healthcare | $451 | $422 | -$29 | -6.4% |
| Other Necessities | $595 | $480 | -$115 | -19.3% |
| Total Taxes (Federal, State, Local, FICA) | $2,025 | $1,735 | -$290 | -14.3% |
HUD Fair Market Rent Differential
EPI Living Wage Benchmark Comparison
Top Local Occupations Wage Parity
BLS median wage comparisons across benchmark roles between both metropolitan labor markets.
| Occupation Title | Industry Sector | Raleigh-Cary Median | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands Median | Nominal Wage Delta | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $114,940 | $119,600 | +$4,660 (+4.1%) | View Dossier |
| Registered Nurse (RN)Healthcare | Healthcare | $84,830 | $99,830 | +$15,000 (+17.7%) | View Dossier |
| Project Management SpecialistBusiness Operations | Business Operations | $102,280 | $99,510 | -$2,770 (-2.7%) | View Dossier |
| Accountant & AuditorFinance | Finance | $81,950 | $85,090 | +$3,140 (+3.8%) | View Dossier |
| Software EngineerTechnology | Technology | $132,770 | $129,440 | -$3,330 (-2.5%) | View Dossier |
| ElectricianSkilled Trades | Skilled Trades | $56,800 | $59,180 | +$2,380 (+4.2%) | View Dossier |
| Financial ManagerFinance | Finance | $163,130 | $166,910 | +$3,780 (+2.3%) | View Dossier |
| Industrial Machinery MechanicIndustrial Manufacturing | Industrial Manufacturing | $62,080 | $63,180 | +$1,100 (+1.8%) | View Dossier |
| Sales ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $163,520 | $135,880 | -$27,640 (-16.9%) | View Dossier |
| Construction ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $119,700 | $103,530 | -$16,170 (-13.5%) | View Dossier |
| Computer and Information Systems ManagersFinance & Management | Finance & Management | $173,960 | $172,160 | -$1,800 (-1.0%) | View Dossier |
| Quality Control InspectorIndustrial Manufacturing | Industrial Manufacturing | $49,460 | $46,630 | -$2,830 (-5.7%) | View Dossier |
Major US Inter-Metro Relocation Corridors
Empirical cost differentials and statutory tax savings across high-volume migration routes.
On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $14,388 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $6,211 less tax and $17,676 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $4,805 less tax and $2,928 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $1,729 less tax and $19,884 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $4,113 less tax and $10,908 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $3,761 more tax and $4,188 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $1,299 less tax and $11,592 less 1BR rent a year
On $100k: $8,301 less tax and $7,296 less 1BR rent a year
Raleigh-Cary, NC to Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Relocation FAQs
About $78,800. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (136.2 in Raleigh-Cary, NC, 107.4 in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
Raleigh-Cary, NC to Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX: State Paychecks, Rents & Reciprocal Corridor
Raleigh-Cary, NC to Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX: 2026 federal, state & local income tax, HUD Fair Market Rents & EPI living costs compared on the same. Official 2026 economic data for Relocation: Raleigh-Cary, NC to Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
About $78,800. That scales $100,000 by the ratio of the metros' cost-of-living indexes (136.2 in Raleigh-Cary, NC, 107.4 in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, from EPI family budgets); taxes are compared separately below.
EPI's family budgets for a single adult put overall living costs 21.2% lower in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX than in Raleigh-Cary, NC. The budgets cover housing, food, transportation, health care and other necessities.