City Comparison

Durham vs Roseville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Durham

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

Roseville

California
139
Expensive
$625,000
Median Home
$2,000/mo
Median Rent
$142,800
Median Income

The Verdict

27.3%

Living in Durham costs 27.3% less than Roseville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Durham, you would need $103,218 in Roseville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
104
Durham
179
Roseville
Groceries
100
Durham
105
Roseville
Utilities
93
Durham
163
Roseville
Transportation
100
Durham
134
Roseville
Healthcare
108
Durham
106
Roseville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Durham has the same purchasing power as $103,218 in Roseville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Roseville equals $54,496 in Durham.

Living in Durham vs Roseville

Housing Costs

Durham's housing index of 104 is lower Roseville's 179, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $625,000. The $285,000 difference in home prices means roughly $18,528 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Durham compared to $2,000/mo in Roseville, a monthly difference of $600.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Durham and 105 in Roseville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Durham vs $499/month in Roseville. 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 163 in Roseville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Durham vs $652 in Roseville. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 108 in Durham and 106 in Roseville. 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 $142,800 in Roseville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,166 and $102,734 respectively. Roseville 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 $3,332/month in Roseville. In Durham, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Roseville, median rent of $2,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 75 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Durham is 27.3% more affordable overall with an index of 101 vs 139.
A $75,000 salary in Durham has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $103,218 in Roseville, based on the cost of living difference.
Durham's housing index is 104 with median homes at $340,000, while Roseville's is 179 with median homes at $625,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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