Cost of Living in Durham, NC [2025]

Nestled in the heart of the Tar Heel State, Durham, NC, is a popular choice for renters looking for a choice of southern, historic charm and a thriving job market. Known as part of the Research Triangle, Durham boasts a rich history in tobacco and textiles, now transformed into a hub for innovation, education, and culture.

Durham appeals to renters with its diverse neighborhoods, ranging from the historic charm of Old West Durham to the sleek modernity of downtown’s revitalized districts. The city offers a dynamic job market driven by industries like healthcare, education, and technology, thanks to institutions like Duke University and numerous startups. For outdoor fun, renters head to the American Tobacco Trail or Eno River State Park, while foodies enjoy a flourishing culinary scene filled with farm-to-table restaurants and award-winning eateries.

If you’re considering calling Durham home, explore our guide to the cost of living in the city, covering everything from rental prices to everyday expenses.

Cost of Living in Durham, NC

What Is the Cost of Living in Durham, NC?

The average cost of living in Durham is 1.2% less than the national average, making it a reasonable option whether you're moving solo or with a family. Essentials like housing, utilities, and transportation are also relatively affordable in Durham, with plenty of culture and job opportunities for a well-rounded quality of life.

Where Is the Cost of Living Highest in Durham?

Moving to Durham offers a similar cost of living as the national average, but you'll spend more as you venture into trendier neighborhoods with the best apartment amenities, on-site gyms, swimming pools, and more. Downtown Durham is among the most sought-after areas in the city, with the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment climbing close to $3,000 with an average rent of $1,686. While downtown prices are higher than in other neighborhoods, there are still plenty of affordable options across Durham.

Where Is the Cost of Living Lowest in Durham?

If you want more affordability from your time in North Carolina, consider looking for cheap apartments in Durham, such as the Duke Forest neighborhood. You can expect to pay between $850 and $1,850 with an average rent of $1,664. and enjoy more breathing room in your budget. Make sure you consider the crime rates and safety in any neighborhood you choose to rent in.

How Much Is Rent in Durham?

After looking over all of the rental data in January, 2025, we find that the median rent in Durham. The overall median rent in Durham is $1,318 after falling 1.1% last month. Prices are now down 3.7% year-over-year. Here's a breakdown of the median rents in Durham.

How Much Is a 1-Bedroom Apartment in Durham, NC?

If you’re planning to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Durham, you can expect a median monthly cost of $1,158, which has dropped slightly over the last few months. You should factor in more breathing room if you want to live in an upscale neighborhood in walking distance to the best of everything Durham has to offer. Our current data indicates that rental prices in Durham are stable, with a slight decline. You can rest easy knowing you're paying a good rate to live in Durham while enjoying a good quality of life and cost of living.

How Much Is a 2-Bedroom Apartment in Durham, NC?

If you’re looking to save on expenses with a roommate or plan to share with a friend, a two-bedroom apartment in Durham comes with a median monthly rent of $1,349. Like one-bedroom units, two-bedroom rental prices have shown a similar trend, remaining steady with slight declines over recent months. The stability makes Durham an appealing option for those seeking affordability without sacrificing the benefits of living in a lively, urban center.

How Much Is Housing in Durham?

If you plan to buy a home in Durham in the near future, you can get an idea of what to expect across the real estate trends in the city, state, and country. According to Best Places, the median home price in Durham is $388,000, which is higher than the U.S. average of $338,100 and the state average of $289,300. As of January 2025, it makes more sense to continue renting in Durham than purchase a home.

What Salary Do I Need to Live in Durham?

It's important to consider how much to budget for your apartment in Durham. We recommend following the 30% rent rule, which suggests only spending one-third, or 30%, of your gross income on rent to live comfortably. According to this rule, if your rent is close to the median for a one-bedroom apartment in Durham at $1,158, your monthly wages should be at least $46,320 a year, $3,860 a month or $22.27 an hour.

If you know what type of lifestyle you plan to lead in Durham, you can figure out a good salary to match. Keep in mind the living wage in Durham is $23.81 per hour, which is the basic wage required to pay for essentials such as housing, food, and necessities. The living wage will force you to live pretty frugally, though, as it does not account for any extra costs like entertainment, student loan repayments, or dining out.

While this figure might seem easily attainable, this recommended salary is for a very basic lifestyle. You’ll need to pursue a higher salary, a less expensive apartment, or both if you anticipate having additional living costs, such as dining, entertainment, and more.

Thankfully, the typical annual salaries for common professions in Durham are highly competitive. The three highest typical annual salaries belong to Management, Computer, and Mathematical, and Architecture and Engineering positions, respectively. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, you'll find the median household income is a comfortable $79,234 a year, $6,602.83 per hour, or $38.09 per hour. The median household income in the United States is slightly lower at $78,538, making Durham a bargain for apartment hunters.

Durham Transportation

Durham’s official public transportation operator is GoDurham and GoTriangle. GoDurham operates 24 bus routes, and GoTriangle runs the Robertson Scholar Express (RSX). A 31-day fare is $40 with discount rates for students and seniors.

If you're a single adult without children, you'll spend about $9,252 on transportation in Durham throughout the year. A family of three, including two working adults and one child, will pay around $13,488 for transportation in one year.

How Much Is Food in Durham?

The state of North Carolina is the birthplace of Pepsi, Cheerwine, Mt. Olive Pickles, and Krispy Kreme. Not surprisingly, the people of Durham are proud of their food and beverage options, offering dining options where you can find the city’s famous biscuits and barbeque or black garlic ice cream.

Thankfully, dining out in Durham is relatively cheap and costs an average of $15 for a meal at an inexpensive restaurant. A three-course dinner for two people at a mid-range restaurant runs $65 without alcohol or dessert.

Single adults without children can expect to spend at least $4,495 on food per year. However, if you're a family of three with two working adults and one child, you can expect to pay $13,211 per year for food.

How Much Is Healthcare in Durham?

Your budget should always include healthcare as a significant expense to stay healthy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality pulled data with MIT to come up with an estimated health expenditure. A single full-time working adult in Durham should budget up to $3,158 per year. A family of two adults and a child should expect to spend up to $10,201 per year.

How Much Are Utilities in Durham?

Summers in Durham are hot and muggy, while the winters are short but cold, wet, and partly cloudy. To stay warm through the relatively cold winter nights and cool through the hot, muggy summer, you'll need to account for higher utilities. Durham’s basic utilities include electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage, running $163.21 for a 915-sq. ft. apartment. Adding on a basic cell phone plan and Internet with 60 Mbps or more and unlimited data, cable/ADSL will cost you an extra $120.23 for a total of $283.44 each month.

Before you move, it’s always a good idea to know how much utilities will cost in an apartment. This knowledge will allow you to budget accordingly for this sometimes overlooked expense.

How Much Is Child Care in Durham?

Beyond your rent, childcare will be a significant portion of your budget. We looked at MIT’s latest data and found Durham's child care costs are more reasonable than many medium to large-sized cities. Locals will spend around $13,719 for the annual cost of one child at daycare in Durham. For two children, you’ll spend around $24,511.

You may spend more in more popular neighborhoods with competitive daycares and waitlists. You can consider looking outside of the city for more flexible options or getting creative with a remote schedule or sharing a nanny with other parents looking for more affordable childcare options.

Durham Fitness & Entertainment

Durham has fitness and entertainment opportunities for everyone. However, if you like to spend your time in a local gym for workouts, you’ll want to consider club membership that will run an average of $55 monthly.

If you’re looking for some entertainment, you can purchase a seat at the local cinema for $12 without snacks or drinks. Otherwise, check out some of the museums in town, like the Museum of Life and Science, the Museum of Durham History, and the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University.

Durham has countless parks for those who prefer to stay outdoors, including Durham Central Park, West Point at Eno City Park, and Forest Hills Park.

Other Expenses to Consider in Durham

When moving to Durham, it’s important to keep taxes in mind. Luckily, Durham’s tax rates are quite affordable. North Carolina has a flat 4.50% individual income tax rate and a flat 4.50% individual income tax rate.

North Carolina also offers tax exemptions on items like prescription drugs and some groceries. Plus, if you’re drawing Social Security, you’ll be happy to know there’s no state tax on retirement benefits, making it easier to stretch your income.

When planning your move to Durham, don’t forget to budget for the cost of relocation. If you're moving out of state, you’ll likely need professional movers, possibly with packing services, and you may need temporary storage as you settle into your new home. Alternatively, finding a furnished apartment might come at a higher price but could help with an easier transition.

Getting all of your furniture and decor set up in your apartment also gets costly. There are ways to decorate on a budget.

Find Your Next Apartment in Durham

With all the details on Durham's cost of living, you’re ready to find the perfect apartment that fits your budget. To help you get started, take our quiz to find your next apartment in Durham. We can also help you find cheap apartments in Durham to offer more room in your budget. Get started today!

FAQs: Cost of Living in Durham in 2025

How expensive is an apartment in Durham, NC?

Where you choose to live in Durham will impact your rental prices. However, the overall median rent in Durham is $1,318 a month. You'll spend $1,158 a month for a one-bedroom and $1,349 on a two-bedroom apartment.

What is the cheapest rent in Durham, NC?

Currently, the cheapest rent in Durham is a one-bedroom apartment. The median rent is $1,158 for a one-bedroom apartment in Durham, NC.

How expensive is it to live in Durham, NC?

The cost of living in Durham is very affordable. The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Durham is $1,158 a month. Currently, a two-bedroom apartment runs $1,349 a month. You'll spend an average of $4,495 a year on food, $9,252 on transportation, and $3,158 on healthcare for a single adult each year in Durham.

What is the population of Durham, NC?

According to the US Census Bureau, the population of Durham, NC was 296,186 in 2024. The population of the entire state of North Carolina is 10,835,491.

What is a good salary in Durham, NC?

To comfortably afford an apartment in Durham, we recommend spending 30% or less of your take-home pay on rent each month. If you rent a one-bedroom apartment for $1,158, you should earn at least $46,320 a year, $3,860 a month, or $22.27an hour.

It's also wise to consider MIT's living wage data that covers the bare basics of housing, transportation, food, and other expenses of $23.81 an hour. Keep in mind that figure will not cover dining out, entertainment, or student debt repayments.

Finally, you could look at the U.S. Census Bureau's data that shows the median household income in Durham, NC is currently $79,234.