What is the cost of living in Durham, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Durham has an overall cost of living index of 111, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Durham has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Durham ranks as #117 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Durham ranks as the #42 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Durham, check out:
Durham Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
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 103.
The Groceries index in Durham is 100.
The Health index in Durham is 129.
The Housing index in Durham is 103.
The Transportation index in Durham is 103.
The Utilities index in Durham is 106.
| Living Expense | Durham | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 111 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 129 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 103 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 101 | 100 |
Durham Cost Of Living Compared To North Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In North Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In North Carolina
- Average Rent In North Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Durham, NC Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Carolina, 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 $396,394.
The Median Rent in Durham is $1,508.
The Median Income in Durham is $81,619.
The Home Value To Income in Durham is 4.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Durham is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Durham | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $396,394 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,508 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $81,619 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.9x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Durham, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Durham Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Durham | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.67 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $20.2 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.1 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $53.19 | $45.56 |
Detailed Durham Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Durham | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.13 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.5 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.05 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.79 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.35 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Durham Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Durham | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $113.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $146.11 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Durham Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Durham | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.36 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Durham Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Durham | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $191.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.28 | $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:
Raleigh, NC has a cost of living index of 116, 1.0x Durham.
Cary, NC has a cost of living index of 123, 1.1x Durham.
Apex, NC has a cost of living index of 121, 1.1x Durham.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 481,031 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Cary, NC | 179,306 | 123 | 1.1x |
| Apex, NC | 70,630 | 121 | 1.1x |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 61,607 | 133 | 1.2x |
| Morrisville, NC | 31,422 | 121 | 1.1x |
| Carrboro, NC | 21,204 | 128 | 1.2x |
| Hillsborough, NC | 9,724 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Butner, NC | 8,065 | 99 | 0.9x |
