Median rent is 13% lower in Durham ($1,508/mo vs $1,729/mo). Buying is cheaper in Durham, where the median home runs $392,800 versus $555,300. Households earn more in Austin ($93,658 vs $81,619 a year). Taken together, Durham is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 91.9 against 98.3 — about 6% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Austin, TX.
Cost of living verdict
Durham is 6% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 91.9 in Durham vs 98.3 in Austin (US national average = 100)
City A
Austin, TX
City B
Durham, NC
How much would you need to earn in Durham, NC to maintain your standard of living from Austin, TX?
Equivalent salary in Durham, NC
$70,155
You could earn $4,845 less (6% lower) and break even.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Austin
Texas
Durham
North Carolina
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Durham at $1,508/mo compared to $1,729/mo in Austin (13% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Austin: the median home is $555,300 versus $392,800 in Durham — 29% more expensive.
Metric
Austin
Durham
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Austin
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Durham
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Durham has cleaner air on average: 33.0 AQI (Good) compared to 65.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Durham if you prioritize lower overall cost of living (index 91.9 vs 98.3).
Pick Austin if you prioritize higher median household income ($93,658/yr).
Pick Durham if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,508/mo median).
Pick Durham if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 33.0).
Durham is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 91.9 versus 98.3 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 6% lower in Durham.
Median rent is $1,729/mo in Austin, TX and $1,508/mo in Durham, NC. Durham, NC has the lower rent by about 13%.
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin, TX and $81,619 in Durham, NC. Austin, TX has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Durham, NC has better air quality on average: 33.0 AQI versus 65.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Austin, TX is equivalent to roughly $93,541 in Durham, NC (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
