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 158, which is 1.6x 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 142.
The standard of living in Durham ranks as #354 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Durham ranks as the #280 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Durham, check out:
Durham Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Durham. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Durham is 108.
The Groceries index in Durham is 118.
The Health index in Durham is 246.
The Housing index in Durham is 119.
The Transportation index in Durham is 118.
The Utilities index in Durham is 125.
| Living Expense | Durham | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 158 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 118 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 246 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 118 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 125 | 121 | 100 |
Durham Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Durham Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Durham is $597,379.
The Median Rent in Durham is $1,105.
The Median Income in Durham is $95,417.
The Home Value To Income in Durham is 6.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Durham is 0.14x.
| Statistic | Durham | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $597,379 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,105 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $95,417 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.3x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.14x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
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
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 134, 0.8x Durham.
Oroville, CA has a cost of living index of 112, 0.7x Durham.
Paradise, CA has a cost of living index of 125, 0.8x Durham.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chico, CA | 102,188 | 134 | 0.8x |
| Oroville, CA | 19,752 | 112 | 0.7x |
| Paradise, CA | 7,392 | 125 | 0.8x |
| Magalia, CA | 7,389 | 114 | 0.7x |
| Gridley, CA | 7,330 | 115 | 0.7x |
| Thermalito, CA | 6,720 | 109 | 0.7x |
| Palermo, CA | 5,266 | 119 | 0.8x |
