City Comparison

Durham vs Twin Falls

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Durham

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

Twin Falls

Idaho
92
Below Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,150/mo
Median Rent
$60,900
Median Income

The Verdict

9.8%

Twin Falls is 9.8% less expensive than Durham overall. A household earning $75,000 in Durham would need approximately $68,317 in Twin Falls to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
104
Durham
93
Twin Falls
Groceries
100
Durham
98
Twin Falls
Utilities
93
Durham
85
Twin Falls
Transportation
100
Durham
96
Twin Falls
Healthcare
108
Durham
94
Twin Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Durham has the same purchasing power as $68,317 in Twin Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Twin Falls equals $82,337 in Durham.

Living in Durham vs Twin Falls

Housing Costs

Durham's housing index of 104 is higher Twin Falls's 93, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $380,000. The $40,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,604 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Durham compared to $1,150/mo in Twin Falls, a monthly difference of $250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Durham and 98 in Twin Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Durham vs $466/month in Twin Falls. 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 85 in Twin Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Durham vs $340 in Twin Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 108 in Durham and 94 in Twin Falls. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 14-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 $60,900 in Twin Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,166 and $66,196 respectively. Twin Falls 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 $1,421/month in Twin Falls. In Durham, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Twin Falls, median rent of $1,150/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 14 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Twin Falls is 9.8% more affordable overall with an index of 92 vs 101.
A $75,000 salary in Durham has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $68,317 in Twin Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Durham's housing index is 104 with median homes at $340,000, while Twin Falls's is 93 with median homes at $380,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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