Port Aransas, TX vs Raleigh, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Raleigh, NC has a modeled overall cost index 18.2% higher than Port Aransas, TX.

Port Aransas, TX · modeled 2BR rent
$2,050 / month
Raleigh, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$1,800 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Port Aransas, TX and Raleigh, NC using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $1,618/month in Raleigh, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $169,410 in Raleigh, NC

Regional cost estimates: Port Aransas, TX uses Corpus Christi, TX. Raleigh, NC uses Raleigh-Cary, NC Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 18.2%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,618
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$19.4K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Port Aransas, TX

Population:3K
Cost Index:
82.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$521K

Raleigh, NC

Population:474K
Cost Index:
97.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$512K

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Port Aransas, TX

The Lone Star State

3K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Texas, this city has a population of 3K residents.

💡 Advantage: Texas has no state income tax!

Raleigh, NC

The Tar Heel State

474K
Population
State Tax
Yes
Climate
Humid subtropical

Notable Facts

  • •Research Triangle
  • •State capital
  • •Major university town

Major Industries

TechnologyResearchEducationGovernment

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Port Aransas, TX vs Raleigh, NC

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 48.2%
Port Aransas, TX
$2,008
Raleigh, NC
$2,975
Difference
$967
more
Other
↑ 8.8%
Port Aransas, TX
$1,892
Raleigh, NC
$2,057
Difference
$166
more
Transportation
↑ 10.9%
Port Aransas, TX
$1,395
Raleigh, NC
$1,547
Difference
$152
more
Healthcare
↑ 20.2%
Port Aransas, TX
$603
Raleigh, NC
$724
Difference
$122
more
Groceries
↑ 11.1%
Port Aransas, TX
$1,040
Raleigh, NC
$1,156
Difference
$115
more
All Utilities
↑ 17.0%
Port Aransas, TX
$563
Raleigh, NC
$658
Difference
$95.70
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,550
To$1,570
↑ $20.00
1 Bed
From$1,680
To$1,640
↓ $40.00
2 Bed
From$2,050
To$1,800
↓ $250
3 Bed
From$2,690
To$2,255
↓ $435
Port Aransas, TXZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,680–$1,680/mo

Raleigh, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,400–$1,880/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Port Aransas, TX
$9,118
Monthly in Raleigh, NC
$1,618
Difference

Home Values

Port Aransas
Raleigh
$521K
Median Value
$512K
↓ -4.8%
YoY Change
↓ -0.5%
↑ +40.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +38.2%
$521K
Price Range
$314K - $992K

Homes in Raleigh are 2% less expensive than Port Aransas

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $7.1K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$594
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
4.7%
Rate difference

Port Aransas, TX

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Texas State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Raleigh, NC

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
North Carolina State Tax
Effective: 4.8%
$7.1K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.4%
$44.1K
Take-Home Pay
$8,822/month
$105.9K

Additional Tax Information

Port Aransas, TX Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.8%

Raleigh, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Environment

Port Aransas
Raleigh
51 Moderate
Air Quality
46 Good
48.6%
Good Air Days
61.7%
97 High
Climate Risk
96 High
🌊🌀🌡
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
52 days
Heat Days >95°F
31 days
▲+2.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
52 days
Heat Days >95°F
31 days

Before moving from Port Aransas, TX to Raleigh, NC

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Raleigh, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Port Aransas, TX. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Port Aransas to Raleigh moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Raleigh, NC by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Port Aransas, TX vs Raleigh, NC

How do the cost estimates for Port Aransas, TX and Raleigh, NC compare?

Raleigh, NC has a modeled overall cost index 18.2% higher than Port Aransas, TX. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Port Aransas, TX, the model estimates $169,410 in Raleigh, NC. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Port Aransas, TX and Raleigh, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,050/month in Port Aransas, TX and $1,800/month in Raleigh, NC. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Texas and North Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com

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