Cost of living in Durham

Durham, United States is Very expensive overall. Monthly costs are about $2146 for one person and $5006 for a family of four, including rent.

How expensive is Durham compared to other cities?

Compared to the European benchmark, Durham is 50% more expensive overall.

How does Durham compare to your city?

Durham is 44% cheaper than New York City, without rent.

Rent in Durham is, on average, 49% lower than in New York City.

What drives the cost of living in Durham?

Who is Durham a good fit for?

Durham tends to fit higher-income residents who can comfortably absorb housing costs. It can be challenging on a moderate budget, mainly due to rent and utilities.

FAQ

Why is Durham so expensive?

The primary driver of Durham's high cost of living is rent and utilities, which significantly impact monthly expenses.

Is food expensive in Durham?

Yes, food costs are 13% higher than the European benchmark.

Is public transport affordable in Durham?

Public transport is 2% higher than the European benchmark, making it relatively affordable.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
2146 $
Without Rent
804 $
Rent & Utilities
1342 $
Food
536 $
Transport
76 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
4453 $
GDP per Capita
81,695 $
Freedom Index
8.39
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
96%
Population
284.0K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 14.1 $
Dinner 51.9 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 9.7 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 6.36 $
Capuccino 4.88 $
Coke, 330ml 2.18 $

Compare Durham with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 0.8 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 3.38 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.77 $
Eggs, 12 pack 3.12 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 19.2 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.3 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 19.2 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.69 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.48 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 0.99 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.36 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 3.43 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 3.24 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 0.66 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.3 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 14.5 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 2.11 $
Cigarette pack 8.02 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 0.5 $
Monthly Pass 29.5 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 0.86 $
Taxi, 8 km 23.5 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 176 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 6.91 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 4.61 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 3.35 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 2.69 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 89 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 137 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 66.6 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 1,119 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 1,911 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,456 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 2,242 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 2,709 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 2,696 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 4,453 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.49%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 54.1 $
Cinema, 1 seat 11.8 $
Haircut 20.1 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 107 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 55.9 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 1,268 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 26,149 $

Compare Durham with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Durham vs George Town (George Town is 70% more expensive)
Bahamas
Durham vs Nassau (Nassau is 28% more expensive) Durham vs Freeport (Freeport is 2% more expensive)
Vanuatu
Durham vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 9% more expensive) Durham vs Luganville (Luganville is 42% more expensive)
United States
Durham vs New York City (New York City is 89% more expensive) Durham vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 49% more expensive) Durham vs Chicago (Chicago is 24% more expensive) Durham vs Houston (Houston is 5% more expensive) Durham vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 10% more expensive) Durham vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 18% more expensive) Durham vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 2% more expensive) Durham vs San Diego (San Diego is 56% more expensive) Durham vs Dallas (Dallas is 19% more expensive) Durham vs San Jose (San Jose is 71% more expensive)
Canada
Durham vs Toronto (Toronto is 20% more expensive) Durham vs Montreal (Montreal is 9% less expensive) Durham vs Calgary (Calgary is 0% more expensive) Durham vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 4% more expensive) Durham vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 17% less expensive) Durham vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 18% less expensive) Durham vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 15% more expensive) Durham vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 23% more expensive) Durham vs Brampton (Brampton is 1% less expensive) Durham vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 0% more expensive)
Barbados
Durham vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 37% less expensive) Durham vs Holetown (Holetown is 35% less expensive)
Panama
Durham vs Panama City (Panama City is 36% less expensive) Durham vs Colon (Colon is 45% less expensive) Durham vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 43% less expensive) Durham vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 51% less expensive) Durham vs David (David is 61% less expensive) Durham vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 56% less expensive) Durham vs Balboa (Balboa is 42% less expensive) Durham vs Pacora (Pacora is 42% less expensive) Durham vs Chitre (Chitre is 49% less expensive) Durham vs Penonome (Penonome is 49% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Durham vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 42% less expensive) Durham vs Cayon (Cayon is 42% less expensive)
Cuba
Durham vs Havana (Havana is 52% less expensive) Durham vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 34% less expensive) Durham vs Holguin (Holguin is 40% less expensive) Durham vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 29% less expensive) Durham vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 51% less expensive) Durham vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 46% less expensive) Durham vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 27% less expensive) Durham vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 27% less expensive) Durham vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 49% less expensive) Durham vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 59% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Durham vs San Jose (San Jose is 42% less expensive) Durham vs Limon (Limon is 44% less expensive) Durham vs Liberia (Liberia is 58% less expensive) Durham vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 43% less expensive) Durham vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 40% less expensive) Durham vs Cartago (Cartago is 55% less expensive) Durham vs Heredia (Heredia is 42% less expensive) Durham vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 21% less expensive) Durham vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 39% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Durham vs Castries (Castries is 46% less expensive) Durham vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 44% less expensive)
Jamaica
Durham vs Kingston (Kingston is 38% less expensive) Durham vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 64% less expensive) Durham vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 53% less expensive) Durham vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 46% less expensive) Durham vs May Pen (May Pen is 62% less expensive) Durham vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 54% less expensive) Durham vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 60% less expensive) Durham vs Linstead (Linstead is 51% less expensive) Durham vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 48% less expensive) Durham vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 47% less expensive)
El Salvador
Durham vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 44% less expensive) Durham vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 67% less expensive) Durham vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 45% less expensive) Durham vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 50% less expensive) Durham vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 46% less expensive) Durham vs Apopa (Apopa is 47% less expensive) Durham vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 44% less expensive) Durham vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 32% less expensive) Durham vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 49% less expensive) Durham vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 59% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Durham vs St. John's (St. John's is 49% less expensive) Durham vs All Saints (All Saints is 50% less expensive)
Grenada
Durham vs St. George's (St. George's is 50% less expensive) Durham vs Grenville (Grenville is 51% less expensive)
Dominica
Durham vs Roseau (Roseau is 53% less expensive) Durham vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 47% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Durham vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 54% less expensive) Durham vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 53% less expensive)
Belize
Durham vs Belize City (Belize City is 59% less expensive) Durham vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 49% less expensive) Durham vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 66% less expensive) Durham vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 38% less expensive) Durham vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 27% less expensive)
Guatemala
Durham vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 53% less expensive) Durham vs Mixco (Mixco is 70% less expensive) Durham vs Coban (Coban is 58% less expensive) Durham vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 64% less expensive) Durham vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 58% less expensive) Durham vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 58% less expensive) Durham vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 59% less expensive) Durham vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 59% less expensive) Durham vs Flores (Flores is 60% less expensive) Durham vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 63% less expensive)
Honduras
Durham vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 61% less expensive) Durham vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 52% less expensive) Durham vs Choloma (Choloma is 72% less expensive) Durham vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 70% less expensive) Durham vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 59% less expensive) Durham vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 60% less expensive) Durham vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 67% less expensive) Durham vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 66% less expensive) Durham vs Yoro (Yoro is 66% less expensive) Durham vs La Lima (La Lima is 59% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Durham vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 63% less expensive) Durham vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 51% less expensive) Durham vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 64% less expensive) Durham vs Higuey (Higuey is 64% less expensive) Durham vs La Vega (La Vega is 73% less expensive) Durham vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 61% less expensive) Durham vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 66% less expensive) Durham vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 75% less expensive) Durham vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 71% less expensive) Durham vs Bonao (Bonao is 75% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Durham vs Managua (Managua is 64% less expensive) Durham vs Leon (Leon is 70% less expensive) Durham vs Masaya (Masaya is 67% less expensive) Durham vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 74% less expensive) Durham vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 70% less expensive) Durham vs Esteli (Esteli is 72% less expensive) Durham vs Granada (Granada is 68% less expensive) Durham vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 79% less expensive) Durham vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 69% less expensive) Durham vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 59% less expensive)