Best Cities for Software Engineers in North Carolina
Ranked by affordability — cost of living, rent, and net income on a $110,000 salary
North Carolina has 14 metro areas with full cost-of-living data. For software engineers earning around $110,000 annually, Rocky Mount stands out as the most affordable option with a cost-of-living index of 51.8 and $75,867 left after taxes and rent. 11 cities in North Carolina sit below the national average cost of living, giving software engineers more purchasing power per dollar earned. Raleigh-Cary is the priciest metro at 104.0 on the index, 52 points above Rocky Mount.
City Rankings by Affordability
Full Comparison Table
| # | City | COL Index | 2BR Rent/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rocky Mount | 51.8 | $1,143 |
| 2 | Goldsboro | 59.6 | $1,244 |
| 3 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | 60.1 | $1,095 |
| 4 | Winston-Salem | 68.8 | $1,232 |
| 5 | Greenville | 70.2 | $1,095 |
| 6 | Jacksonville | 71.3 | $1,173 |
| 7 | Fayetteville | 71.3 | $1,251 |
| 8 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines | 72.5 | $1,358 |
| 9 | Greensboro-High Point | 74.0 | $1,330 |
| 10 | Burlington | 75.0 | $1,348 |
| 11 | Wilmington | 87.8 | $1,659 |
| 12 | Durham-Chapel Hill | 96.4 | $1,711 |
| 13 | Asheville | 97.3 | $1,567 |
| 14 | Raleigh-Cary | 104.0 | $1,750 |
Net income = $110,000 salary − federal & North Carolina state taxes − annual 2BR rent. COL index: national avg = 100.
How We Rank Cities
Cities are ranked by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parity index, where 100 equals the national average. A lower score means your money goes further. Net income is calculated using a benchmark $110,000 salary for software engineers who build software and applications, after applying 2026 federal and North Carolina state income tax brackets and subtracting HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom apartment. Purchasing power adjusts net income for local price levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most affordable city in North Carolina for software engineers?
Rocky Mount is the most affordable city in North Carolina for software engineers, with a cost-of-living index of 51.8 (national average = 100). On a $110,000 salary, you'd have approximately $75,867 after taxes and rent for a 2-bedroom apartment.
How much do software engineers earn in North Carolina?
Software Engineers in North Carolina earn around $110,000 per year on average. After federal and state taxes, and typical 2-bedroom rent costs (averaging $16,248 per year across the state), take-home spending money varies significantly by city—making location a critical factor.
How does cost of living vary across North Carolina cities?
Across 14 metro areas in North Carolina, the average cost-of-living index is 76 (national average = 100). The most affordable metro is Rocky Mount at 51.8, while Raleigh-Cary is the most expensive at 104.0—a difference of 52 index points.
Other Rankings in North Carolina
Compare Any Two Cities Side by Side
Dig deeper into salary, taxes, rent, and purchasing power for any city pair.