Cost of Living Comparison Between Durham, NC and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Durham, NC and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,605 in Durham, NC versus $3,634 in Seattle, WA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,797 in Durham, NC versus $5,545 in Seattle, WA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,988 in Durham, NC versus $7,456 in Seattle, WA.

Living in Durham, NC costs roughly 28% less than in Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Durham, NC 94% above, Seattle, WA 170% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.06 $15.06

$24.77 $24.77

-39.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.2 $69.2

$119 $119

-41.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.84 $9.84

$13.78 $13.78

-28.59%

Cappuccino

$4.66 $4.66

$5.61 $5.61

-16.93%

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

$2.22 $2.22

$2.89 $2.89

-23.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.46 $2.46

-26.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.14 $5.14

$7.96 $7.96

-35.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.41 $6.41

$8.21 $8.21

-21.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.39 $1.39

-36.69%

White Bread (500g)

$3.74 $3.74

$4.86 $4.86

-23.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$5.16 $5.16

-28.88%

Eggs

$4.51 $4.51

$6.61 $6.61

-31.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.98 $8.98

$25.06 $25.06

-64.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.34 $12.34

$15.77 $15.77

-21.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.60 $15.60

$20.32 $20.32

-23.23%

Apples (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$6.23 $6.23

-11.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 $1.23

$2.74 $2.74

-55.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.83 $3.83

$5.33 $5.33

-28.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$6.49 $6.49

-47.30%

Potato (1kg)

$2.57 $2.57

$3.09 $3.09

-16.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$3.86 $3.86

-27.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.75 $2.75

-30.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 $1.90

$2.55 $2.55

-25.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.95 $9.95

$11.35 $11.35

-12.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.29 $15.29

$15.48 $15.48

-1.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.84 $2.84

-38.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.11 $4.11

$4.24 $4.24

-3.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$2.69 $2.69

-23.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.73 $24.73

$97.8 $97.8

-74.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.57 $2.57

-21.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.72 $1.72

-12.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.95 $22.95

$30.17 $30.17

-23.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.15 $1.15

-28.70%

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

$28.5K $28.5K

$33.3K $33.3K

-14.36%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.5K $26.5K

-2.12%

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

$161 $161

$263 $263

-38.92%

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

$53.3 $53.3

$60.2 $60.2

-11.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.3 $75.3

$74.3 $74.3

1.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.40 $39.40

$80.6 $80.6

-51.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$12.16 $12.16

$15.91 $15.91

-23.57%

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

$1,283 $1,283

$2,281 $2,281

-43.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.9K $30.9K

$29.8K $29.8K

3.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.2 $53.2

$70.0 $70.0

-23.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.27 $35.27

$53.8 $53.8

-34.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.0 $77.0

$119 $119

-35.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 $119

$143 $143

-16.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,854 $1,854

$2,312 $2,312

-19.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,406 $1,406

$1,829 $1,829

-23.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,532 $2,532

$4,694 $4,694

-46.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,367 $2,367

$3,491 $3,491

-32.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,751 $2,751

$8,154 $8,154

-66.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,665 $2,665

$5,200 $5,200

-48.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,464 $4,464

$6,564 $6,564

-31.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.42

1.87%

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

Last update for Durham, NC: June 7, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,854 in Durham, NC and $2,312 in Seattle, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seattle, WA pays 47% 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: $69.0 in Durham, NC vs $119 in Seattle, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $373 vs $538 per month, with Durham, NC cheaper across the board.

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 Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Durham, NC wins on cost – living expenses run 39% lower than in Seattle, WA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Durham, NC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Seattle, WA earns 47% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,854 in Durham, NC versus $2,312 in Seattle, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Durham, NC runs roughly 296% less than in Seattle, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $1,283 in Durham, NC versus $2,281 in Seattle, WA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Durham, NC is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both work as nomad bases, but Durham, NC delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,605 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Durham, NC hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Durham, NC and Seattle, WA 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 Durham, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Seattle, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.