Cost of Living in Durham - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $892 (excluding rent), and $2,040 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,259 (excluding rent), and $4,004 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.05 £14.42

$13.61 £10.3

$40.82 £30.9

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$95.1 £72

$81.5 £61.7

$102 £77.1

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.24 £7.75

$9.69 £7.33

$11.07 £8.38

Cappuccino

$4.29 £3.25

$2.68 £2.03

$5.35 £4.05

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

$2.51 £1.9

$1.69 £1.28

$3.37 £2.55

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 £1.52

$1.79 £1.36

$2.76 £2.09

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 £4.59

$4.05 £3.07

$7.42 £5.62

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.34 £4.04

$4.01 £3.03

$8.01 £6.06

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 £1.36

$1.6 £1.21

$3.16 £2.39

White Bread (500g)

$1.64 £1.25

$1 £0.76

$1.74 £1.32

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.52 £1.91

$1.65 £1.25

$2.75 £2.08

Eggs

$4.08 £3.09

$2.95 £2.23

$4.85 £3.67

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.08 £6.87

$4.28 £3.24

$10.63 £8.05

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.34 £6.31

$6.95 £5.26

$8.73 £6.61

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.3 £7.04

$6.64 £5.02

$11.96 £9.05

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 £2.81

$1.82 £1.38

$3.9 £2.95

Banana (1kg)

$2.16 £1.64

$1.06 £0.8

$3.31 £2.51

Oranges (1kg)

$3.31 £2.5

$2.34 £1.77

$4.14 £3.13

Tomato (1kg)

$3.45 £2.61

$2.76 £2.09

$4.15 £3.14

Potato (1kg)

$1.2 £0.91

$0.82 £0.62

$1.75 £1.32

Onion (1kg)

$1.5 £1.14

$1.31 £0.99

$1.99 £1.51

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 £0.75

$0.66 £0.5

$1.32 £1

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 £1.36

$1.16 £0.88

$2.74 £2.07

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$23.29 £17.63

$19.61 £14.84

$26.42 £20

Wine (Bottle)

$10.56 £7.99

$7.92 £6

$15.84 £11.99

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.06 £2.32

$2.06 £1.56

$4.13 £3.12

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 £2.24

$2.05 £1.55

$4.11 £3.11

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.2 £2.42

$2.67 £2.02

$8.54 £6.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 £40.92

$20.02 £15.16

$88.1 £66.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.88 £3.69

$2.79 £2.11

$6.96 £5.27

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.6 £1.21

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.14 £17.52

$20.42 £15.46

$32.67 £24.73

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 £1.51

$1.9 £1.44

$2.13 £1.61

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

$36K £27.2K

$34.8K £26.4K

$37.1K £28.1K

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

$39.7K £30.1K

$41.8K £31.6K

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

$279 £211

$206 £156

$437 £331

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

$16.08 £12.17

$13.84 £10.48

$17.3 £13.09

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.57 £26.17

$34.12 £25.83

$40.95 £31

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.2 £38.73

$33.04 £25.01

$68.9 £52.1

Cinema Ticket

$12.81 £9.7

$8.09 £6.12

$24.26 £18.37

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

$1,618 £1,225

$1,243 £941

$2,209 £1,672

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.4K £13.9K

$15.4K £11.6K

$24.6K £18.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$103 £77.6

$93.6 £70.9

$107 £81

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.7 £45.98

$13.5 £10.22

$108 £81.8

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 £94

$62.1 £47

$207 £157

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 £65.8

$80.2 £60.7

$93.6 £70.8

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,457 £1,103

$1,084 £821

$1,660 £1,257

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$816 £618

$487 £369

$1,353 £1,024

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,554 £1,934

$1,336 £1,011

$3,773 £2,856

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,259 £953

$1,168 £884

$1,374 £1,040

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,101 £3,105

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,482 £1,122

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.45

5.9

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

Last update: November 24, 2025

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Cost of Living in Durham - Frequently Asked Questions

Durham offers a cohesive balance of heritage, access, and everyday costs that many travelers and expats appreciate. For those moving on a budget, you’ll find housing and daily needs more approachable than several larger cities, while maintaining strong transport links to the rest of the UK. It’s not a bargain-basement destination, but you’ll often encounter reasonable rental options near the university, medieval streets, and riverside paths. As with any city, costs vary by neighborhood and season, so a short-term stay can help you map the best value areas before committing. Cost of Living in Durham, United Kingdom serves as a frame to compare groceries, utilities, and leisure against your home city. Tip: plan a week-long trial to sample neighborhoods at different times of day.

Day-to-day life in Durham blends compact city vibes with easy access to nature. For housing, look near the university, the city center, or Riverside areas for options that balance walkability with price, and consider longer leases for favorable terms. Food options range from bakeries and markets to international eateries; seasonal markets can trim costs. For transport, you’ll rely on buses, cycling routes, and occasional trains to nearby towns. If you work remotely, several coworking spaces and cafes offer reliable wifi and a friendly buzz. Use budgeting habits to track utilities, and gauge the [Durham, United Kingdom] living cost across neighborhoods. Tip: test wifi in your preferred spots before signing a lease.

Quality of life in Durham blends a peaceful pace with easy access to culture and outdoors. Budgeting frameworks like a simple 50/30/20 split or a week-by-week meal plan help you ride seasonal shifts in groceries and heating. To maximize value, choose neighborhoods that balance proximity to amenities with quiet streets; consider cycling or walking to cut transport costs; take advantage of university-driven events and free museums. When you travel, compare weekends or bank holidays against regular weekdays to spot price dips. Tip: build a short-term rotation of neighborhoods to assess feel and utility bills across seasons.