Cost of Living Comparison Between Cincinnati, OH and Durham, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Cincinnati, OH and Durham, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,134 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $2,620 in Durham, NC, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,308 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $3,769 in Durham, NC, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,482 per month in Cincinnati, OH vs $4,918 in Durham, NC, rent included.

Cincinnati, OH is about 19% cheaper than Durham, NC, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Cincinnati, OH and Durham, NC sit above the global median – Cincinnati, OH by 60%, Durham, NC by 96%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.10 $15.10

$14.82 $14.82

1.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.3 $59.3

$70.9 $70.9

-16.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.85 $7.85

$10.12 $10.12

-22.43%

Cappuccino

$4.45 $4.45

$4.66 $4.66

-4.51%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.23 $2.23

-1.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.83 $1.83

18.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.90 $4.90

$5.03 $5.03

-2.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.85 $6.85

$6.32 $6.32

8.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.88 $0.88

-11.36%

White Bread (500g)

$3.21 $3.21

$3.86 $3.86

-16.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.90 $3.90

$3.75 $3.75

4.00%

Eggs

$3.27 $3.27

$4.50 $4.50

-27.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.19 $10.19

$9.02 $9.02

12.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.74 $9.74

$12.57 $12.57

-22.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.20 $15.20

$15.51 $15.51

-2.00%

Apples (1kg)

$4.63 $4.63

$5.76 $5.76

-19.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.18 $1.18

17.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.90 $3.90

-0.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$3.42 $3.42

39.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$2.52 $2.52

-18.25%

Onion (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.69 $2.69

13.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.97 $1.97

-11.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.97 $1.97

-28.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.73 $8.73

$9.88 $9.88

-11.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.02 $15.02

$15.16 $15.16

-0.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.70 $1.70

17.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$4.24 $4.24

-58.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$78.8 $78.8

$25.19 $25.19

212.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.02 $2.02

87.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.57 $1.57

-19.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$25.27 $25.27

$22.40 $22.40

12.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.6K $35.6K

$28.1K $28.1K

26.82%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.0K $26.0K

-2.59%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 $122

$162 $162

-24.42%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$57.0 $57.0

$54.4 $54.4

4.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$57.0 $57.0

$75.8 $75.8

-24.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.35 $30.35

$40.09 $40.09

-24.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.88 $8.88

Cinema Ticket

$13.70 $13.70

$12.04 $12.04

13.79%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,568 $1,568

$1,267 $1,267

23.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K $17.4K

$30.7K $30.7K

-43.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.54 $41.54

$52.1 $52.1

-20.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.25 $39.25

$34.92 $34.92

12.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 $89.4

$76.6 $76.6

16.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 $101

$119 $119

-15.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,482 $1,482

$1,882 $1,882

-21.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,050 $1,050

$1,453 $1,453

-27.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,835 $2,835

$2,529 $2,529

12.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,988 $1,988

$2,332 $2,332

-14.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,765 $3,765

$2,683 $2,683

40.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,208 $2,208

$2,726 $2,726

-18.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,109 $4,109

$4,523 $4,523

-9.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cincinnati, OH: July 14, 2026

Last update for Durham, NC: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,482 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,882 in Durham, NC. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 10% higher in Durham, NC, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Cincinnati, OH versus $71.0 in Durham, NC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $344 vs $377 – making Cincinnati, OH the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cincinnati, OH vs Durham, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,134 in Cincinnati, OH, $2,620 in Durham, NC – roughly 23% apart. Durham, NC costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,200 per month in Cincinnati, OH and $3,929 in Durham, NC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cincinnati, OH, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,134 in Cincinnati, OH and $2,620 in Durham, NC. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 213% less in Cincinnati, OH. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Cincinnati, OH, where all-in costs run around $2,134, than in Durham, NC at $2,620. In Cincinnati, OH it covers expenses comfortably, while in Durham, NC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Durham, NC has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,134 in Cincinnati, OH to $2,620 in Durham, NC. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Cincinnati, OH. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Durham, NC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.