Durham vs Olympia
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Durham
Olympia
The Verdict
Durham is 9.8% less expensive than Olympia overall. A household earning $75,000 in Durham would need approximately $83,168 in Olympia 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 $83,168 in Olympia.
Conversely, $75,000 in Olympia equals $67,634 in Durham.
Living in Durham vs Olympia
Housing Costs
Durham's housing index of 104 is lower Olympia's 131, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $495,000. The $155,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,080 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Durham compared to $1,600/mo in Olympia, a monthly difference of $200.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Durham and 105 in Olympia. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Durham vs $499/month in Olympia. 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 91 in Olympia. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Durham vs $364 in Olympia. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Durham and 124 in Olympia. 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 $81,300 in Olympia. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,166 and $72,589 respectively. Olympia 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 $1,897/month in Olympia. In Durham, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Olympia, median rent of $1,600/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 29 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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