Durham vs Pearland
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Durham
Pearland
The Verdict
Pearland is 1.0% less expensive than Durham overall. A household earning $75,000 in Durham would need approximately $74,257 in Pearland 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 $74,257 in Pearland.
Conversely, $75,000 in Pearland equals $75,750 in Durham.
Living in Durham vs Pearland
Housing Costs
Durham's housing index of 104 is higher Pearland's 99, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $372,000. The $32,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,076 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Durham compared to $1,800/mo in Pearland, a monthly difference of $400.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Durham and 97 in Pearland. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Durham vs $461/month in Pearland. 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 100 in Pearland. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Durham vs $400 in Pearland. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Durham and 105 in Pearland. 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 $118,800 in Pearland. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,166 and $118,800 respectively. Pearland 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 $2,772/month in Pearland. In Durham, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Pearland, median rent of $1,800/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 9 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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