Cost of Living
per year
per month
How Durham's prices compare to the US city average across major spending categories.
Index: 100 = US city average. Values >100 mean more expensive, <100 means cheaper.
How far does your salary go in Durham?
Your $100,000 in Durham has the same purchasing power as $97,838 in the average US city. You'd need $2,162 more here to maintain that standard of living.
Demographics and workforce data from the US Census ACS 5-Year.
bachelor's or higher
Climate, safety, and walkability indicators.
See a side-by-side breakdown of cost of living, housing, and salaries.
Popular comparisons
Sorted by affordability — most affordable first.
Within 10 points of Durham's cost index of 102, sorted by closest match.
Durham, North Carolina has a cost-of-living index of 102, which is 2% above the national average. The typical renter pays $1,296 per month. The median household earns $74,710 per year.
To match the lifestyle of a $70,000 earner in the average US city, you'd need about $71,547 per year in Durham. Single renters typically want at least three times the $15,552 threshold to cover housing comfortably.
Durham is near the US city average. Overall prices are 2% above the national average.