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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,544 per month in Durham, NC vs $2,125 in Cincinnati, OH, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,720 per month in Durham, NC vs $3,297 in Cincinnati, OH, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,895 per month in Durham, NC vs $4,470 in Cincinnati, OH, rent included.

Durham, NC costs about 20% more than Cincinnati, OH, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Durham, NC and Cincinnati, OH sit above the global median – Durham, NC by 90%, Cincinnati, OH by 59%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.88 $14.88

$14.90 $14.90

-0.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.0 $69.0

$59.1 $59.1

16.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 $9.88

$8.15 $8.15

21.23%

Cappuccino

$4.58 $4.58

$4.47 $4.47

2.46%

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

$2.13 $2.13

$2.23 $2.23

-4.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.14 $2.14

-15.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.91 $4.91

$4.90 $4.90

0.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.69 $6.69

$6.93 $6.93

-3.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.83 $0.83

4.82%

White Bread (500g)

$3.74 $3.74

$3.32 $3.32

12.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.60 $3.60

$3.87 $3.87

-6.98%

Eggs

$4.66 $4.66

$3.25 $3.25

43.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.07 $9.07

$10.37 $10.37

-12.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.29 $12.29

$9.58 $9.58

28.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$15.51 $15.51

2.64%

Apples (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$4.69 $4.69

18.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$1.44 $1.44

-14.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$3.93 $3.93

-3.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.54 $3.54

$5.06 $5.06

-30.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 $2.51

$2.08 $2.08

20.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.05 $3.05

-11.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.76 $1.76

13.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.41 $1.41

40.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.86 $9.86

$8.92 $8.92

10.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.75 $14.75

$15.04 $15.04

-1.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 $1.78

$2.00 $2.00

-11.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$1.75 $1.75

141.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$2.04 $2.04

-2.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.75 $24.75

$79.6 $79.6

-68.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.01 $2.01

$3.68 $3.68

-45.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.21 $1.21

31.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.39 $22.39

$24.64 $24.64

-9.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.89 $0.89

-2.25%

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

$27.9K $27.9K

$35.1K $35.1K

-20.50%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$24.7K $24.7K

3.01%

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

$157 $157

$119 $119

31.37%

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

$53.0 $53.0

$56.9 $56.9

-6.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.7 $74.7

$57.0 $57.0

30.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.40 $39.40

$30.32 $30.32

29.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.50 $8.50

Cinema Ticket

$12.11 $12.11

$13.96 $13.96

-13.25%

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

$1,269 $1,269

$1,595 $1,595

-20.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.1K $31.1K

$17.1K $17.1K

81.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 $52.1

$41.05 $41.05

26.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.19 $35.19

$39.57 $39.57

-11.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.0 $77.0

$90.2 $90.2

-14.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$99.2 $99.2

20.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,841 $1,841

$1,476 $1,476

24.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,430 $1,430

$1,055 $1,055

35.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,534 $2,534

$2,899 $2,899

-12.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,279 $2,279

$1,965 $1,965

16.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,749 $2,749

$3,481 $3,481

-21.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,718 $2,718

$2,073 $2,073

31.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,478 $4,478

$4,055 $4,055

10.43%

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 Durham, NC: June 1, 2026

Last update for Cincinnati, OH: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,841 in Durham, NC versus $1,476 in Cincinnati, OH. 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 $69.0 in Durham, NC versus $59.0 in Cincinnati, OH. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $375 vs $349 – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,544 in Durham, NC, $2,125 in Cincinnati, OH – roughly 20% apart. Durham, NC costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,816 per month in Durham, NC and $3,187 in Cincinnati, OH. 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 $2,544 in Durham, NC and $2,125 in Cincinnati, OH. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 222% 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 $2,125, than in Durham, NC at $2,544. 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 $2,125 in Cincinnati, OH to $2,544 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.