Durham vs Peoria
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Durham
Peoria
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 32.9%, with Peoria being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Durham has equivalent purchasing power to $56,436 in Peoria.
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 $56,436 in Peoria.
Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $99,671 in Durham.
Living in Durham vs Peoria
Housing Costs
Durham's housing index of 104 is higher Peoria's 42, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $164,000. The $176,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,436 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Durham compared to $1,000/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $400.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Durham and 97 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Durham vs $461/month in Peoria. 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 103 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Durham vs $412 in Peoria. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Durham and 107 in Peoria. 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 $58,700 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,166 and $77,237 respectively. Peoria 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 $1,370/month in Peoria. In Durham, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 62 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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