Durham vs Fort Collins
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Durham
Fort Collins
The Verdict
Durham is 12.9% less expensive than Fort Collins overall. A household earning $75,000 in Durham would need approximately $86,139 in Fort Collins 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 Durham has the same purchasing power as $86,139 in Fort Collins.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Collins equals $65,302 in Durham.
Living in Durham vs Fort Collins
Housing Costs
Durham's housing index of 104 is lower Fort Collins's 142, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $531,000. The $191,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,420 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Durham compared to $1,625/mo in Fort Collins, a monthly difference of $225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Durham and 100 in Fort Collins. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Durham vs $475/month in Fort Collins. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Durham and 87 in Fort Collins. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Durham vs $348 in Fort Collins. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Durham and 97 in Fort Collins. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $57,738 in Durham and $74,800 in Fort Collins. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,166 and $64,483 respectively. Fort Collins residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,347/month to housing in Durham vs $1,745/month in Fort Collins. In Durham, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Fort Collins, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 38 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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