Cost of Living Comparison Between Durham, NC and London Cost of Living Comparison Between Durham, NC and London

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,620 in Durham, NC versus $2,389 in London.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,769 in Durham, NC versus $3,461 in London.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,918 in Durham, NC versus $4,533 in London.

Living in Durham, NC is roughly 10% more expensive than in London, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Durham, NC 96% above, London 79% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.82 $14.82

$18.12 CA$25.41

-18.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.9 $70.9

$73.3 CA$103

-3.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.12 $10.12

$10.11 CA$14.17

0.10%

Cappuccino

$4.66 $4.66

$3.48 CA$4.87

33.91%

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

$2.23 $2.23

$1.99 CA$2.78

12.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.95 CA$2.73

-6.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.03 $5.03

$5.70 CA$7.99

-11.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.32 $6.32

$6.52 CA$9.15

-3.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.63 CA$2.29

-46.01%

White Bread (500g)

$3.86 $3.86

$2.42 CA$3.39

59.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.30 CA$4.62

13.64%

Eggs

$4.50 $4.50

$3.25 CA$4.56

38.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.02 $9.02

$9.81 CA$13.75

-8.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.57 $12.57

$12.06 CA$16.90

4.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.51 $15.51

$9.06 CA$12.71

71.19%

Apples (1kg)

$5.76 $5.76

$4.62 CA$6.48

24.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 $1.18

$1.43 CA$2.00

-17.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.90 $3.90

$3.60 CA$5.05

8.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.79 CA$5.32

-9.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.52 $2.52

$1.63 CA$2.28

54.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.13 CA$2.98

26.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.19 CA$3.07

-10.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.45 CA$2.03

35.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.88 $9.88

$12.72 CA$17.84

-22.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.16 $15.16

$12.42 CA$17.41

22.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$2.13 CA$2.98

-20.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.52 CA$3.54

68.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.36 CA$3.31

-17.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.19 $25.19

$83.1 CA$116

-69.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 $2.02

$4.16 CA$5.83

-51.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.77 CA$2.48

-11.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.40 $22.40

$30.80 CA$43.18

-27.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.15 CA$1.61

-29.57%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$24.8K CA$34.8K

13.21%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$20.6K CA$28.9K

26.35%

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

$162 $162

$144 CA$202

12.20%

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

$54.4 $54.4

$47.42 CA$66.5

14.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$57.7 CA$80.9

31.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.09 $40.09

$41.55 CA$58.3

-3.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.50 CA$10.51

Cinema Ticket

$12.04 $12.04

$10.97 CA$15.38

9.75%

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

$1,267 $1,267

$551 CA$772

130.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.7K $30.7K

$14.4K CA$20.1K

113.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.1 $52.1

$53.9 CA$75.6

-3.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.92 $34.92

$45.75 CA$64.1

-23.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.6 $76.6

$86.0 CA$121

-10.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$81.5 CA$114

45.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,882 $1,882

$1,462 CA$2,049

28.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,453 $1,453

$1,306 CA$1,832

11.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,529 $2,529

$2,646 CA$3,710

-4.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,332 $2,332

$1,986 CA$2,785

17.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,683 $2,683

$3,401 CA$4,768

-21.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,726 $2,726

$3,635 CA$5,097

-25.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,523 $4,523

$2,843 CA$3,985

59.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.21

5.31%

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

Last update for Durham, NC: July 12, 2026

Last update for London: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,882 in Durham, NC and $1,462 in London. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Durham, NC pays 59% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $71.0 in Durham, NC vs $73.0 in London. Groceries flip the comparison at $377 vs $324, with London cheaper for home cooking.

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 London: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

London wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Durham, NC. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making London the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 59% higher in Durham, NC, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,882 in Durham, NC versus $1,462 in London. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in London runs roughly 230% less than in Durham, NC. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,267 in Durham, NC versus $551 in London. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $2,389 in London versus $2,620 in Durham, NC, a $2,500 budget is realistic in London but tight or insufficient in Durham, NC. The gap between the two cities makes London the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but London delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,389 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes London hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Durham, NC and London are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find London gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Durham, NC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.