| Index | Durham | North Carolina | National |
| Cost of living | 109 | 96 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Health care | 98 | 99 | 100 |
| Housing | 127 | 88 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 99 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 99 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 108 | 100 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 100 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 105 | 100 | 100 |
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Durham is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Durham is 109, which is 9% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
In Durham, daily expenses such as food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Durham will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Durham, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 27.2% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 32 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Durham. The results indicated that 69% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 31% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.
Wondering if Durham is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Durham, for example, the median home price is 32.3% higher than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 15.5% higher than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Durham boasting a median household income of $92,427, which is 13.6% higher than the national average.
Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Durham, the transportation index is 0.6% higher than the national average.
Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Durham, the utilities index registers at 3.3% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.
The Durham cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $140,222 | $11,685 | $3,272 | $4,207 |
| Renters | $62,174 | $5,181 | $1,451 | $1,865 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| North Carolina | 4.75% | 7.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| North Carolina | 4.75% | 4.75% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Efland, NC | 823 | 94 | 6.0% |
| Stem, NC | 1,207 | 97 | 3.0% |
| Gorman, NC | 1,016 | 99 | 1.2% |
| Butner, NC | 8,082 | 99 | 0.7% |
| Creedmoor, NC | 4,714 | 100 | 0.3% |
| Durham, NC | 285,434 | 109 | 9.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Toledo, OH | 281,644 | 83 | 17.1% |
| Saskatoon, SK | 281,340 | n/a | |
| Irvine, CA | 280,132 | 208 | 108.4% |
| Newark, NJ | 290,764 | 120 | 19.8% |
| Gatineau, QC | 293,695 | n/a | |
| Durham, NC | 285,434 | 109 | 9.4% |
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