City Comparison

Durham vs Overland Park

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Durham

North Carolina
101
Average
$340,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$57,738
Median Income

Overland Park

Kansas
106
Above Average
$414,000
Median Home
$1,450/mo
Median Rent
$104,800
Median Income

The Verdict

4.7%

Living in Durham costs 4.7% less than Overland Park. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Durham, you would need $78,713 in Overland Park.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
104
Durham
109
Overland Park
Groceries
100
Durham
96
Overland Park
Utilities
93
Durham
98
Overland Park
Transportation
100
Durham
95
Overland Park
Healthcare
108
Durham
102
Overland Park

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Durham has the same purchasing power as $78,713 in Overland Park.

Conversely, $75,000 in Overland Park equals $71,462 in Durham.

Living in Durham vs Overland Park

Housing Costs

Durham's housing index of 104 is lower Overland Park's 109, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $414,000. The $74,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,812 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Durham compared to $1,450/mo in Overland Park, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Durham and 96 in Overland Park. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Durham vs $456/month in Overland Park. 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 98 in Overland Park. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Durham vs $392 in Overland Park. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 108 in Durham and 102 in Overland Park. 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 $104,800 in Overland Park. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,166 and $98,868 respectively. Overland Park 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 $2,445/month in Overland Park. In Durham, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Overland Park, median rent of $1,450/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 6 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Durham is 4.7% more affordable overall with an index of 101 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Durham has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $78,713 in Overland Park, based on the cost of living difference.
Durham's housing index is 104 with median homes at $340,000, while Overland Park's is 109 with median homes at $414,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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