Median rent is 7% lower in Durham ($1,508/mo vs $1,613/mo). Buying is cheaper in Durham, where the median home runs $392,800 versus $613,700. Households earn more in Chapel Hill ($85,989 vs $81,619 a year). Overall, the two cities have a nearly identical cost of living index (91.9).
City A
Chapel Hill, NC
City B
Durham, NC
How much would you need to earn in Durham, NC to maintain your standard of living from Chapel Hill, NC?
Equivalent salary in Durham, NC
$75,000
Costs are about the same in both cities.
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
Chapel Hill
North Carolina
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 $1,613/mo in Chapel Hill (7% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Chapel Hill: the median home is $613,700 versus $392,800 in Durham — 36% more expensive.
Metric
Chapel Hill
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.
Chapel Hill
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Durham
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for Durham (avg AQI 33.0) but not yet for Chapel Hill.
Chapel Hill is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 91.9 versus 91.9 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Chapel Hill.
Median rent is $1,613/mo in Chapel Hill, NC and $1,508/mo in Durham, NC. Durham, NC has the lower rent by about 7%.
Median household income is $85,989 in Chapel Hill, NC and $81,619 in Durham, NC. Chapel Hill, NC has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Chapel Hill, NC is equivalent to roughly $100,000 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
