Durham, NC vs Charlotte, NC: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Charlotte, NC and Durham, NC are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Durham works out to about $74,800 in Charlotte, before taxes.
- Housing is 1.3% lower in Charlotte, goods 0.0% lower and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,735 a month in Charlotte and $1,640 in Durham, $1,140 a year more in Charlotte (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $381,000 in Charlotte and $402,000 in Durham.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.3%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Durham and Charlotte
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Durham, NC
- Charlotte, NC
All items Durham, NC: 97.6 Charlotte, NC: 97.3
Goods Durham, NC: 96.6 Charlotte, NC: 96.6
Housing (rents) Durham, NC: 98.9 Charlotte, NC: 97.6
Utilities Durham, NC: 89.3 Charlotte, NC: 89.2
Other services Durham, NC: 98.2 Charlotte, NC: 98.2
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Durham, NC | Charlotte, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.6 | 97.3 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 98.9 | 97.6 |
| Utilities | 89.3 | 89.2 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| Category | Durham | Charlotte | Charlotte vs Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.6 | 97.3 | −0.2% |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 98.9 | 97.6 | −1.3% |
| Utilities | 89.3 | 89.2 | −0.2% |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,640 | $1,735 | +5.8% |
| Typical home value | $402,000 | $381,000 | −5.0% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Durham | $75,000 | $74,800 | −0.2% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Durham and Charlotte has narrowed since 2008: 2.0 points then, 0.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Durham, NC
- Charlotte, NC
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Durham, NC | Charlotte, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.3 | 95.3 |
| 2009 | 96.2 | 94.1 |
| 2010 | 97.2 | 95.7 |
| 2011 | 97.7 | 95.7 |
| 2012 | 96.7 | 96.1 |
| 2013 | 97.3 | 95.9 |
| 2014 | 97.6 | 96.3 |
| 2015 | 97.6 | 96.2 |
| 2016 | 97.5 | 96.9 |
| 2017 | 97.0 | 96.2 |
| 2018 | 95.8 | 95.5 |
| 2019 | 94.8 | 94.5 |
| 2020 | 94.8 | 94.2 |
| 2021 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2022 | 97.1 | 96.8 |
| 2023 | 97.3 | 97.3 |
| 2024 | 97.6 | 97.3 |
Goods
- Durham, NC
- Charlotte, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Durham, NC | Charlotte, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.2 | 97.1 |
| 2009 | 95.2 | 94.9 |
| 2010 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2011 | 96.9 | 96.7 |
| 2012 | 96.9 | 96.5 |
| 2013 | 96.9 | 96.6 |
| 2014 | 97.1 | 96.8 |
| 2015 | 96.2 | 95.9 |
| 2016 | 96.9 | 96.6 |
| 2017 | 96.8 | 96.5 |
| 2018 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2019 | 95.7 | 95.7 |
| 2020 | 95.4 | 95.4 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2022 | 95.6 | 95.4 |
| 2023 | 96.8 | 96.7 |
| 2024 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
Housing (rents)
- Durham, NC
- Charlotte, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Durham, NC | Charlotte, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.7 | 85.1 |
| 2009 | 95.1 | 84.6 |
| 2010 | 92.8 | 85.6 |
| 2011 | 91.6 | 83.4 |
| 2012 | 86.6 | 85.0 |
| 2013 | 90.8 | 84.4 |
| 2014 | 91.6 | 85.6 |
| 2015 | 92.0 | 85.5 |
| 2016 | 87.5 | 85.9 |
| 2017 | 89.3 | 87.2 |
| 2018 | 89.6 | 88.7 |
| 2019 | 90.5 | 88.5 |
| 2020 | 92.4 | 88.5 |
| 2021 | 90.3 | 90.6 |
| 2022 | 95.3 | 93.9 |
| 2023 | 96.4 | 97.1 |
| 2024 | 98.9 | 97.6 |
Utilities
- Durham, NC
- Charlotte, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Durham, NC | Charlotte, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 88.0 | 87.6 |
| 2009 | 87.9 | 87.9 |
| 2010 | 89.8 | 89.6 |
| 2011 | 89.2 | 89.3 |
| 2012 | 90.7 | 91.5 |
| 2013 | 90.6 | 91.4 |
| 2014 | 91.1 | 92.0 |
| 2015 | 90.9 | 92.1 |
| 2016 | 88.0 | 89.5 |
| 2017 | 84.5 | 86.4 |
| 2018 | 87.6 | 88.4 |
| 2019 | 90.0 | 91.0 |
| 2020 | 88.2 | 89.4 |
| 2021 | 85.3 | 86.1 |
| 2022 | 83.7 | 84.4 |
| 2023 | 84.6 | 84.8 |
| 2024 | 89.3 | 89.2 |
Other services
- Durham, NC
- Charlotte, NC
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Durham, NC | Charlotte, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.6 | 98.3 |
| 2009 | 97.9 | 97.5 |
| 2010 | 99.4 | 99.1 |
| 2011 | 100.9 | 100.4 |
| 2012 | 100.6 | 100.4 |
| 2013 | 100.3 | 100.2 |
| 2014 | 100.5 | 100.3 |
| 2015 | 100.9 | 100.7 |
| 2016 | 102.0 | 101.6 |
| 2017 | 100.2 | 99.8 |
| 2018 | 98.3 | 98.2 |
| 2019 | 95.8 | 95.8 |
| 2020 | 95.5 | 95.5 |
| 2021 | 99.6 | 99.7 |
| 2022 | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| 2023 | 98.7 | 98.6 |
| 2024 | 98.2 | 98.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,735 in Charlotte vs $1,640 in Durham
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Durham, NC
- Charlotte, NC
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Durham, NC | Charlotte, NC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $1,003 | $995 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $1,019 | $1,021 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $1,004 | $1,033 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,022 | $1,034 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,040 | $1,052 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,056 | $1,068 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,056 | $1,081 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,073 | $1,079 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,084 | $1,106 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,106 | $1,136 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,111 | $1,142 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,108 | $1,141 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,131 | $1,159 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,157 | $1,185 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,148 | $1,187 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,157 | $1,198 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,184 | $1,220 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,217 | $1,242 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,215 | $1,253 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,192 | $1,249 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,231 | $1,268 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,238 | $1,273 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,246 | $1,299 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,248 | $1,312 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,260 | $1,338 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,349 | $1,413 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,424 | $1,493 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,425 | $1,524 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,467 | $1,547 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,544 | $1,617 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,563 | $1,649 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,539 | $1,636 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,560 | $1,653 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,589 | $1,678 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,567 | $1,682 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,565 | $1,661 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,578 | $1,669 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,603 | $1,694 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,588 | $1,695 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,569 | $1,679 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,592 | $1,701 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,619 | $1,718 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,599 | $1,711 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,595 | $1,693 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,611 | $1,708 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,623 | $1,725 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,640 | $1,735 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $381,000 in Charlotte vs $402,000 in Durham
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Durham, NC
- Charlotte, NC
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Durham, NC | Charlotte, NC | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $199K | $172K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $201K | $175K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $203K | $178K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $207K | $182K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $210K | $186K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $214K | $189K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $217K | $193K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $221K | $197K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $225K | $201K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $229K | $205K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $233K | $209K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $237K | $214K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $241K | $219K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $246K | $222K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $250K | $226K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $254K | $229K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $257K | $232K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $260K | $235K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $263K | $238K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $267K | $242K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $271K | $247K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $274K | $251K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | – | $258K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $293K | $271K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $305K | $284K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $322K | $301K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $337K | $317K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $352K | $331K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $376K | $352K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $403K | $374K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $406K | $378K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $398K | $374K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $392K | $368K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $397K | $370K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $406K | $376K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $410K | $380K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $412K | $384K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $416K | $388K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $415K | $387K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $416K | $388K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $416K | $388K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $414K | $385K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $412K | $384K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $412K | $385K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $410K | $385K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $405K | $384K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $402K | $381K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Durham, NC
- Cost of living in Charlotte, NC
- Reverse: moving from Charlotte to Durham
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.