Cost of Living in Durham, NC
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Durham, NC to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Durham, NC?
With a price level of 97.6 (U.S. average = 100), Durham, NC is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs cost about the same as the national average; everyday goods are 3% below average; utilities are 11% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 2% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Durham, NC vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.6 | −2.4% |
| Housing | 98.9 | −1.1% |
| Goods | 96.6 | −3.4% |
| Utilities | 89.3 | −10.7% |
| Other services | 98.2 | −1.8% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Durham, NC
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,372 | $54,880/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,456 | $58,240/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,660 | $66,400/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,064 | $82,560/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,450 | $98,000/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Durham, NC
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Durham, NC | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $39,000 | $32,469 |
| $60,000 | $58,500 | $47,359 |
| $80,000 | $78,100 | $61,166 |
| $100,000 | $97,600 | $74,106 |
| $150,000 | $146,400 | $105,998 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, North Carolina 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Durham, NC's median wage of $60,720 takes home about $4,088 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,456, which is 36% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,632 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Durham, NC
- Federal income tax$5,106
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,765
- Medicare (1.45%)$880
- North Carolina income tax$1,914
- Take-home pay$49,055
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Highest-paying jobs in Durham, NC
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in North Carolina cities
Half of North Carolina’s 4,941,820 workers earn less than $47,970 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,030–$75,610 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Durham, NC stretches a paycheck furthest, while Jacksonville, NC is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | $49,990 | 97.3 | $1,428 | 42% | $1,977 | $41,974 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $49,430 | 97.9 | $1,508 | 45% | $1,861 | $41,284 |
| Raleigh, NC | $51,990 | 98.2 | $1,596 | 45% | $1,936 | $43,184 |
| Greensboro, NC | $46,570 | 92.9 | $1,164 | 37% | $2,023 | $41,188 |
| Durham, NC | $60,720 | 97.6 | $1,456 | 36% | $2,632 | $50,275 |
| Winston, NC | $46,380 | 92.0 | $1,031 | 32% | $2,144 | $41,399 |
| Wilmington, NC | $45,800 | 96.4 | $1,380 | 44% | $1,758 | $39,059 |
| Asheville, NC | $46,870 | 96.5 | $1,429 | 45% | $1,778 | $39,872 |
| Hickory, NC | $45,220 | 88.5 | $908 | 29% | $2,194 | $42,062 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $45,620 | 92.0 | $1,065 | 34% | $2,062 | $40,797 |
| Greenville, NC | $46,560 | 88.4 | $896 | 28% | $2,291 | $43,259 |
| Burlington, NC | $44,010 | 93.2 | $1,230 | 41% | $1,795 | $38,945 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $43,960 | 88.0 | $918 | 30% | $2,103 | $41,195 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $40,230 | 92.1 | $935 | 34% | $1,849 | $36,280 |
| Pinehurst, NC | $42,920 | 88.3 | $1,239 | 42% | $1,716 | $40,145 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Durham, NC vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NC | 97.6 | $1,456 | $60,720 | 344,020 |
| North Port, FL | 102.4 | $1,686 | $47,440 | 339,940 |
| El Paso, TX | 89.9 | $1,012 | $39,510 | 339,120 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 100.9 | $1,140 | $47,470 | 338,230 |
| Worcester, MA | 102.5 | $1,558 | $57,830 | 349,880 |
| Harrisburg, PA | 98.7 | $1,212 | $49,610 | 335,010 |
| Little Rock, AR | 89.4 | $984 | $45,790 | 358,210 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Durham, NC expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area are 97.6% of the U.S. average, with housing at 98.9%. It is the #119 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Durham, NC?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $58,543 in Durham, NC (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $60,720.
Can you afford Durham, NC on the median wage?
A single worker on the $60,720 median wage takes home about $4,088 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,456 would take 36% of that.
How much is rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Durham, NC are $1,372 for a studio, $1,456 for one bedroom, $1,660 for two bedrooms and $2,064 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Durham, NC
Management Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $176,190
- General and Operations Manager — $113,930
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Project Management Specialist — $104,870
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $95,460
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $93,110
- Accountant and Auditor — $85,090
- Human Resources Specialist — $81,100
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $135,620
- Computer Systems Analyst — $106,410
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $40,560
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $33,630
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,170
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,230
- Cooks, Fast Food — $29,190
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,170
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $37,300
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $36,590
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $72,460
- Retail Salesperson — $31,790
- Cashier — $29,920
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $68,450
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $50,790
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $47,840
- Office Clerks, General — $47,010
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $46,860
- Customer Service Representative — $46,800
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $49,130
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $39,000
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,750
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,410