College Station vs Durham
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
College Station
Durham
The Verdict
College Station is 13.9% less expensive than Durham overall. A household earning $75,000 in College Station would need approximately $87,069 in Durham to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in College Station has the same purchasing power as $87,069 in Durham.
Conversely, $75,000 in Durham equals $64,604 in College Station.
Living in College Station vs Durham
Housing Costs
College Station's housing index of 82 is lower Durham's 104, translating to median home prices of $314,000 vs $340,000. The $26,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,692 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in College Station compared to $1,400/mo in Durham, a monthly difference of $325.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 93 in College Station and 100 in Durham. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $442/month in College Station vs $475/month in Durham. College Station offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 96 in College Station and 93 in Durham. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in College Station vs $372 in Durham. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 90 in College Station and 108 in Durham. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $50,900 in College Station and $57,738 in Durham. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $58,506 and $57,166 respectively. College Station residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,188/month to housing in College Station vs $1,347/month in Durham. In College Station, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Durham, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 22 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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