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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,700 in Slough versus $2,544 in Durham, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,943 in Slough versus $3,720 in Durham, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,187 in Slough versus $4,895 in Durham, NC.

Living in Slough is roughly 6% more expensive than Durham, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Slough 101% above, Durham, NC 90% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Slough
Durham, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.50 £15.24
$14.88 $14.88
37.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.9 £64.6
$69.0 $69.0
25.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.08 £8.23
$9.88 $9.88
12.15%
Cappuccino
$4.79 £3.56
$4.58 $4.58
4.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 £2.11
$2.13 $2.13
33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 £1.66
$1.81 $1.81
23.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.09 £4.53
$4.91 $4.91
24.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.75 £5.01
$6.69 $6.69
0.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Slough
Durham, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 £1.06
$0.87 $0.87
63.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 £0.97
$3.74 $3.74
-64.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.57 £1.91
$3.60 $3.60
-28.61%
Eggs
$3.52 £2.61
$4.66 $4.66
-24.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.98 £7.42
$9.07 $9.07
10.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.26 £6.14
$12.29 $12.29
-32.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.40 £9.96
$15.92 $15.92
-15.83%
Apples (1kg)
$3.10 £2.30
$5.58 $5.58
-44.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 £1.11
$1.23 $1.23
21.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.01 £2.24
$3.78 $3.78
-20.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.27 £2.43
$3.54 $3.54
-7.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 £1.08
$2.51 $2.51
-42.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 £1.17
$2.70 $2.70
-41.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 £0.73
$1.99 $1.99
-50.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 £1.12
$1.98 $1.98
-23.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$20.74 £15.42
$9.86 $9.86
110.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.49 £7.05
$14.75 $14.75
-35.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 £1.70
$1.78 $1.78
28.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 £2.00
$4.23 $4.23
-36.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Slough
Durham, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.93 £4.41
$1.98 $1.98
199.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$90.6 £67.3
$24.75 $24.75
265.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 £4.63
$2.01 $2.01
209.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 £1.04
$1.59 $1.59
-12.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.93 £11.10
$22.39 $22.39
-33.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 £1.40
$0.87 $0.87
117.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.1K £29.1K
$27.9K $27.9K
40.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.2K £31.4K
$25.5K $25.5K
65.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Slough
Durham, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$289 £215
$157 $157
84.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.67 £13.88
$53.0 $53.0
-64.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.25 £29.92
$74.7 $74.7
-46.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Slough
Durham, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.57 £26.44
$39.40 $39.40
-9.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.44 £2.56
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.56 £12.31
$12.11 $12.11
36.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Slough
Durham, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,893 £1,407
$1,269 $1,269
49.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.8K £17.0K
$31.1K $31.1K
-26.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Slough
Durham, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.0 £62.4
$52.1 $52.1
61.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.32 £30.72
$35.19 $35.19
17.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.4 £66.4
$77.0 $77.0
16.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.3 £73.8
$119 $119
-16.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Slough
Durham, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,617 £1,202
$1,841 $1,841
-12.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,416 £1,053
$1,430 $1,430
-0.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,031 £2,253
$2,534 $2,534
19.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,472 £1,838
$2,279 $2,279
8.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$27.3K £20.3K
$2,749 $2,749
892.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$20.4K £15.2K
$2,718 $2,718
652.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Slough
Durham, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,937 £2,183
$4,478 $4,478
-34.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.45
6.54
-16.67%

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

Last update for Slough: May 31, 2026

Last update for Durham, NC: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,617 in Slough and $1,841 in Durham, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Durham, NC pays 52% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $87.0 in Slough vs $69.0 in Durham, NC. Groceries flip the comparison at $281 vs $375, 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 6% 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 Durham, NC?
On paper, Durham, NC earns 52% less. 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 vs Durham, NC?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,617 in Slough versus $1,841 in Durham, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Slough vs Durham, NC?
A monthly transit pass in Durham, NC runs roughly 266% 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 Durham, NC?
Childcare runs $1,893 in Slough versus $1,269 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 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 $2,544 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 6% less than in Slough. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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