CostIndexUSA

Jonesboro, AR vs Raleigh, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAR
Jonesboro
85.9
overall index
$1,325/mo rent
NC
Raleigh
98.2
overall index
$1,650/mo rent

Jonesboro is moderately cheaper than Raleigh — 14.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Jonesboro, you would need $91,500 in Raleigh. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+92.4%
Jonesboro
53.8
Raleigh
103.5
🛒 Groceries+3.2%
Jonesboro
93.6
Raleigh
96.6
🚗 Transportation+3.0%
Jonesboro
100.1
Raleigh
103.1
🏥 Healthcare+3.1%
Jonesboro
90.5
Raleigh
93.3
Utilities+18.7%
Jonesboro
75
Raleigh
89

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Jonesboro to see what you'd need to earn in Raleigh to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Raleigh, NC
$91,500
$11,500 more needed in Raleigh

Formula: salary × (98.2 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 1.1432. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Jonesboro, AR

Median Home Price
$196,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
53.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.3×

Raleigh, NC

Median Home Price
$428,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
103.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.6×

Raleigh has 92.4% higher housing costs compared to Jonesboro.

Income & Job Market

Jonesboro, AR

Median Household Income
$58,600
Per Capita Income
$33,400
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
77,678
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailAgriculture

Raleigh, NC

Median Household Income
$96,100
Per Capita Income
$54,800
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
467,665
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareFinanceGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Jonesboro, AR
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Raleigh, NC
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

79% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.