Durham vs Hillsboro
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Durham
Hillsboro
The Verdict
Durham is 21.1% less expensive than Hillsboro overall. A household earning $75,000 in Durham would need approximately $95,050 in Hillsboro 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 $95,050 in Hillsboro.
Conversely, $75,000 in Hillsboro equals $59,180 in Durham.
Living in Durham vs Hillsboro
Housing Costs
Durham's housing index of 104 is lower Hillsboro's 175, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $533,000. The $193,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,540 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Durham compared to $1,725/mo in Hillsboro, a monthly difference of $325.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Durham and 108 in Hillsboro. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Durham vs $513/month in Hillsboro. Durham offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Durham and 96 in Hillsboro. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Durham vs $384 in Hillsboro. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Durham and 103 in Hillsboro. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $57,738 in Durham and $106,700 in Hillsboro. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,166 and $83,359 respectively. Hillsboro 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 $2,490/month in Hillsboro. In Durham, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Hillsboro, median rent of $1,725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 71 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases