Durham vs Port St Lucie
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Durham
Port St Lucie
The Verdict
Port St Lucie is 2.0% less expensive than Durham overall. A household earning $75,000 in Durham would need approximately $73,515 in Port St Lucie 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 $73,515 in Port St Lucie.
Conversely, $75,000 in Port St Lucie equals $76,515 in Durham.
Living in Durham vs Port St Lucie
Housing Costs
Durham's housing index of 104 is higher Port St Lucie's 103, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $384,000. The $44,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,856 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 Port St Lucie, a monthly difference of $400.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Durham and 102 in Port St Lucie. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Durham vs $485/month in Port St Lucie. 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 93 in Port St Lucie. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Durham vs $372 in Port St Lucie. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Durham and 96 in Port St Lucie. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-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 $81,100 in Port St Lucie. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,166 and $81,919 respectively. Port St Lucie 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 $1,892/month in Port St Lucie. In Durham, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Port St Lucie, median rent of $1,800/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 12 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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