City comparison
No. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 157 in San Jose, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 161, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Raleigh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,572 a month versus $2,669 in San Jose.
The income gap between San Jose and Raleigh is significant: $146,427 median household versus $85,395. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,669 in San Jose and $1,572 in Raleigh.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Raleigh costs less and San Jose pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
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
San Jose and Raleigh are 2,382 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,669 a month in San Jose to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, down $1,097 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $146,427 in San Jose to $85,395 in Raleigh, down $61,032 (42%).
The crime index goes from 157 in San Jose to 142 in Raleigh, down 15 points (10%).
The move
Raleigh and San Jose are 2,382 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $2,669 a month in San Jose, up $1,097 a month (70%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $146,427 in San Jose, up $61,032 (71%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 157 in San Jose, up 15 points (11%).
San Jose, 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 San Jose and Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
Raleigh rent is 41% cheaper than San Jose
San Jose
$2,669/mo
Raleigh
Winner$1,572/mo
Typical rent runs $1,572 a month in Raleigh versus $2,669 in San Jose, so Raleigh is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $1,097/month back in your pocket ($13,164/year). Over five years that's $65,820 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in San Jose, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Raleigh is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
71% higher
San Jose's median income is 71% higher than Raleigh
San Jose
Winner$146,427
Raleigh
$85,395
Median household income is $146,427 in San Jose versus $85,395 in Raleigh, so typical pay runs 71% higher in San Jose (about $61,032 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, San Jose is the stronger labor market on paper. Raleigh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
10% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 10% lower than San Jose
San Jose
157 (100 = avg)
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 157 in San Jose (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 San Jose. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
San Jose weather is 16% more comfortable than Raleigh
San Jose
Winner66°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
San Jose averages about 66°F (76°F highs); Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs). San Jose sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Raleigh averages around 60°F. San Jose scores 16% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Raleigh if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 71% higher ($146,427), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 66°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Raleigh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 41% 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 10% lower than San Jose (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
Rent is the clearest fork: Raleigh at $1,572/month versus $2,669 in San Jose ($1,097 apart). San Jose median income is $146,427 against $85,395 in Raleigh, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Raleigh rent at $1,572/month is still below San Jose's $2,669, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 66°F in San Jose and 60°F in Raleigh.
Pick Raleigh when shaving $1,097 off rent at $1,572/month is the priority. Otherwise, San Jose's case rests on $2,669/month rent with $146,427 local income.
Common questions
Ready to move to Raleigh?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Raleigh when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for San Jose and Raleigh, plus other cities in CA and NC.
