City comparison
No. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 158 in Los Angeles, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 202, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $1,933 in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles and Raleigh are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,933 in Los Angeles and $1,572 in Raleigh, and median household income lands at $81,939 versus $85,395. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Raleigh is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Los Angeles makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Raleigh is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Raleigh at $1,572 average has pockets that run $1,372 and others at $1,972: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Los Angeles and Raleigh are 2,232 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,933 a month in Los Angeles to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $361 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $81,939 in Los Angeles to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $3,456 (4%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Los Angeles to 142 in Raleigh, down 16 points (10%).
The move
Raleigh and Los Angeles are 2,232 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,933 a month in Los Angeles, up $361 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $81,939 in Los Angeles, down $3,456 (4%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 158 in Los Angeles, up 16 points (11%).
Los Angeles, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Raleigh, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Los Angeles and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 19% cheaper than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$1,933/mo
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $1,933 in Los Angeles, so Raleigh is 19% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $4,332, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Raleigh still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Los Angeles.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Raleigh's median income is 4% higher than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
$81,939
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $81,939 in Los Angeles, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Raleigh (about $3,456 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
10% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 10% lower than Los Angeles
Los Angeles
158 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 158 in Los Angeles (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 10% lower in Raleigh. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Raleigh, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Los Angeles. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Los Angeles and Raleigh are about even on typical weather.
Los Angeles
76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh
67°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Los Angeles averages about 76°F (83°F highs); Raleigh averages about 67°F (76°F highs). Los Angeles sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Raleigh sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Los Angeles
On these five categories Raleigh takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Los Angeles because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Los Angeles only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,572 a month. Choose Raleigh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 10% lower than Los Angeles (142 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,572/month in Raleigh versus $1,933 in Los Angeles. Median income reads $85,395 in Raleigh and $81,939 in Los Angeles, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Median income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $81,939 in Los Angeles.
Pick Raleigh when shaving $361 off rent at $1,572/month is the priority. Otherwise, Los Angeles's case rests on $1,933/month rent with $81,939 local income.
Safety scores read 46/100 in Los Angeles and 49/100 in Raleigh.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Los Angeles and Raleigh, plus other cities in CA and NC.
