Durham vs Great Falls
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Durham
Great Falls
The Verdict
Great Falls is 14.8% less expensive than Durham overall. A household earning $75,000 in Durham would need approximately $65,347 in Great Falls 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 $65,347 in Great Falls.
Conversely, $75,000 in Great Falls equals $86,080 in Durham.
Living in Durham vs Great Falls
Housing Costs
Durham's housing index of 104 is higher Great Falls's 82, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $325,000. The $15,000 difference in home prices means roughly $972 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Durham compared to $1,050/mo in Great Falls, a monthly difference of $350.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Durham and 99 in Great Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Durham vs $470/month in Great Falls. 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 90 in Great Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Durham vs $360 in Great Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Durham and 92 in Great Falls. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 16-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 $55,800 in Great Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,166 and $63,409 respectively. Great Falls 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 $1,302/month in Great Falls. In Durham, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Great Falls, median rent of $1,050/mo remains manageable. 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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