Durham, CA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Durham, CA Summary

Cost of living in Durham research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Durham is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in California, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Durham is 153, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Durham is 1.5x higher than the national average.

  • Durham ranks as the #334 cheapest in California out of 634.

  • Durham ranks as the #5,771 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Durham is $583,499.

  • The median income in Durham is $120,778.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
153
Durham's Overall Cost Of Living
1.5x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Durham, CA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Durham has an overall cost of living index of 153, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to California, Durham has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than California's index of 141.

The standard of living in Durham ranks as #334 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Durham ranks as the #300 most expensive place in the Golden State.

For more reading on life in Durham, check out:

334 out of 634
In California
5,771 out of 6,489
In America

Durham Cost Of Living Vs. California

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Durham. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Durham is 111.

  • The Groceries index in Durham is 107.

  • The Health index in Durham is 114.

  • The Housing index in Durham is 243.

  • The Transportation index in Durham is 120.

  • The Utilities index in Durham is 113.

Living Expense Durham California National Average
Overall 153 141 100
Services 111 110 100
Groceries 107 112 100
Health 114 110 100
Housing 243 195 100
Transportation 120 125 100
Utilities 113 128 100
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Durham Cost of Living Vs. CA

Durham, CA Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Durham is $583,499.

  • The Median Rent in Durham is $1,092.

  • The Median Income in Durham is $120,778.

  • The Home Value To Income in Durham is 4.8x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Durham is 0.11x.

Statistic Durham California United States
Median Home Value $583,499 $763,287 $303,400
Median Rent $1,092 $1,956 $1,348
Median Income $120,778 $96,334 $78,538
Home Value To Income 4.8x 7.9x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.11x 0.24x 0.21x
$583,499
Median Home Value
$1,092
Median Rent
$120,778
Median Income

Durham, CA Costs By Category

Detailed Durham Services Costs Vs. California

Item Durham California
Shampoo $1.44 $1.28
Movie $13.76 $12.13
Bowling $22.22 $18
Haircut $40.0 $24.26
Beauty Salon $60.53 $45.56

Detailed Durham Groceries Costs Vs. California

Item Durham California
Ground Beef $5.56 $5.84
Fried Chicken $2.06 $1.57
Milk $4.93 $4.67
Potatoes $4.69 $4.93
Pizza $13.98 $12.09
Beer $10.49 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.67 $3.7

Detailed Durham Health Costs Vs. California

Item Durham California
Optometrist $153.5 $125.68
Doctor $201.43 $135.78
Dentist $115.72 $113.29

Detailed Durham Transportation Costs Vs. California

Item Durham California
Gasoline $4.51 $3.46
Tire Balancing $58.67 $59.92

Detailed Durham Utilities Costs Vs. California

Item Durham California
All Electricity $238.53 $193.99
Phone $190.81 $192.25

Durham SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
9
Affordability
6
Diversity
7
Safety
N/A
Amenities
6
Education
8
Commute
4

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Durham

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Durham. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Chico, CA has a cost of living index of 130, 0.8x Durham.

  • Oroville, CA has a cost of living index of 110, 0.7x Durham.

  • Magalia, CA has a cost of living index of 109, 0.7x Durham.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Durham
Chico, CA 102,032 130 0.8x
Oroville, CA 19,855 110 0.7x
Magalia, CA 7,784 109 0.7x
Gridley, CA 7,372 108 0.7x
Paradise, CA 6,793 117 0.8x
Thermalito, CA 6,645 107 0.7x
Palermo, CA 5,440 111 0.7x

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