😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,136 in Slough versus $2,470 in Durham, NC.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,730 in Slough versus $3,763 in Durham, NC.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,324 in Slough versus $5,056 in Durham, NC.
🌍Living in Slough is roughly 27% more expensive than in Durham, NC, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Slough128% above, Durham, NC80% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Slough
Durham, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.60£18.18
$15.26$15.26
61.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.5£69.1
$75.6$75.6
23.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.81£7.99
$10.08$10.08
7.24%
Cappuccino
$5.06£3.74
$4.64$4.64
9.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96£2.19
$2.65$2.65
11.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33£1.72
$2.13$2.13
9.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.04£6.68
$6.08$6.08
48.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.22£5.34
$7.15$7.15
0.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Slough
Durham, NC
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76£1.30
$0.96$0.96
83.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63£1.21
$3.72$3.72
-56.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.94£2.18
$3.56$3.56
-17.42%
Eggs
$3.66£2.71
$4.64$4.64
-21.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.40£10.64
$16.85$16.85
-14.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.75£6.47
$15.71$15.71
-44.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.05£11.12
$18.53$18.53
-18.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36£2.48
$5.45$5.45
-38.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69£1.25
$1.42$1.42
19.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.01£2.23
$4.67$4.67
-35.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.59£2.65
$4.74$4.74
-24.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70£1.26
$3.70$3.70
-54.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40£1.03
$3.15$3.15
-55.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10£0.81
$2.07$2.07
-46.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55£1.15
$2.03$2.03
-23.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$24.40£18.03
$8.03$8.03
203.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.08£8.19
$14.97$14.97
-25.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.55£2.62
$1.76$1.76
101.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56£2.63
$3.79$3.79
-6.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Slough
Durham, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.56£4.11
$1.48$1.48
275.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$262£194
$25.37$25.37
932.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.05£4.47
$1.98$1.98
205.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.18£2.35
$1.89$1.89
68.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.47£29.91
$30.58$30.58
32.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00£1.48
$0.92$0.92
117.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K£28.4K
$36.0K$36.0K
6.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.6K£30.7K
$24.5K$24.5K
69.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Slough
Durham, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$361£267
$172$172
110.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.76£15.35
$66.4$66.4
-68.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.40£32.82
$71.3$71.3
-37.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Slough
Durham, NC
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.49£29.93
$47.22$47.22
-14.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.24£6.09
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.89£11.01
$13.82$13.82
7.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Slough
Durham, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,825£1,349
$1,507$1,507
21.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K£11.5K
$24.5K$24.5K
-36.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Slough
Durham, NC
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.5£55.8
$50.8$50.8
48.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.6£52.2
$37.16$37.16
90.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114£84.6
$93.2$93.2
22.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104£76.5
$138$138
-25.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Slough
Durham, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,585£1,172
$1,695$1,695
-6.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,465£1,083
$1,242$1,242
17.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,136£2,318
$2,633$2,633
19.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,686£1,986
$2,177$2,177
23.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$27.4K£20.2K
$2,716$2,716
908.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$20.4K£15.1K
$2,649$2,649
669.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Slough
Durham, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,406£2,518
$4,613$4,613
-26.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.91
6.07
-19.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Slough: August 31, 2026
Last update for Durham, NC: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,585 in Slough and $1,695 in Durham, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Durham, NC pays 35% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $94.0 in Slough vs $76.0 in Durham, NC. Groceries flip the comparison at $327 vs $439, with Slough 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
Slough vs Durham, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Slough or Durham, NC?
Durham, NC wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Slough. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Durham, NC the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Slough or in Durham, NC?
On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Durham, NC. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Slough compared to Durham, NC?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,585 in Slough versus $1,695 in Durham, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Slough compared to Durham, NC?
A monthly transit pass in Durham, NC runs roughly 933% less than in Slough. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Slough and in Durham, NC?
Childcare runs $1,825 in Slough versus $1,507 in Durham, NC. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Slough or in Durham, NC?
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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Slough or Durham, NC?
Both work as nomad bases, but Durham, NC delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,470 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Durham, NC hard to pass up.
How safe is Slough compared to Durham, NC?
Safety-wise, Slough and Durham, NC are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Durham, NC gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Slough. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.