Cost of Living in Durham - Updated Prices & Insights

72.52
Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $961 (excluding rent), and $2,065 including rent.
Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $2,469 (excluding rent), and $4,099 including rent.
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🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.14 £14.08
$13.67 £10.06
$41.01 £30.18
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.3 £70.2
$81.7 £60.1
$102 £75.2
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.86 £7.26
$9.33 £6.87
$10.67 £7.85
Cappuccino
$4.43 £3.26
$2.77 £2.04
$5.53 £4.07
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 £1.85
$1.69 £1.24
$3.38 £2.49
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2 £1.47
$1.79 £1.32
$2.75 £2.02
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.13 £4.51
$4.09 £3.01
$7.49 £5.51
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.51 £4.05
$4.14 £3.04
$8.26 £6.08
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 £1.28
$1.55 £1.14
$3.06 £2.25
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 £1.21
$1 £0.74
$1.74 £1.28
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.56 £1.88
$1.67 £1.23
$2.79 £2.05
Eggs
$4.23 £3.11
$3.06 £2.25
$5.04 £3.71
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.28 £6.83
$4.38 £3.22
$10.87 £8
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.07 £5.94
$6.72 £4.94
$8.44 £6.21
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.33 £6.87
$6.66 £4.9
$12 £8.83
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 £2.74
$1.82 £1.34
$3.91 £2.88
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 £1.6
$1.07 £0.79
$3.33 £2.45
Oranges (1kg)
$3.24 £2.39
$2.3 £1.69
$4.06 £2.98
Tomato (1kg)
$3.47 £2.56
$2.78 £2.04
$4.17 £3.07
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 £0.85
$0.79 £0.58
$1.67 £1.23
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 £1.11
$1.31 £0.96
$1.99 £1.47
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 £0.74
$0.67 £0.49
$1.34 £0.99
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.8 £1.33
$1.16 £0.86
$2.75 £2.03
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$22.87 £16.83
$19.26 £14.17
$25.95 £19.1
Wine (Bottle)
$10.89 £8.02
$8.09 £5.96
$20.24 £14.9
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 £2.22
$2.03 £1.49
$4.05 £2.98
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3 £2.21
$2.08 £1.53
$4.16 £3.06
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.17 £2.33
$2.65 £1.95
$8.45 £6.22
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.2 £39.92
$20.09 £14.79
$88.4 £65.1
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.78 £3.51
$2.73 £2.01
$6.81 £5.01
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 £1.12
$1.52 £1.12
$1.52 £1.12
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.8 £16.78
$20.12 £14.8
$32.19 £23.69
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.98 £1.46
$1.89 £1.39
$2.12 £1.56
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2K £26.6K
$35K £25.8K
$37.3K £27.5K
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K £28.8K
$39.1K £28.8K
$41.1K £30.3K
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$279 £205
$206 £152
$436 £321
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.56 £11.45
$13.39 £9.85
$16.73 £12.31
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.4 £25.31
$33.95 £24.98
$40.75 £29.98
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.9 £37.48
$32.89 £24.2
$68.6 £50.5
Cinema Ticket
$12.71 £9.36
$8.03 £5.91
$24.08 £17.72
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,760 £1,295
$1,352 £995
$2,403 £1,768
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K £11.6K
$13.1K £9,641
$21K £15.4K
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 £77.4
$96 £70.6
$110 £80.7
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.3 £45.11
$13.62 £10.03
$109 £80.2
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 £89
$60.5 £44.5
$202 £148
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89 £65.5
$82.1 £60.5
$95.8 £70.5
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,454 £1,070
$1,082 £796
$1,656 £1,219
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$823 £606
$491 £362
$1,365 £1,004
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,581 £1,900
$1,350 £993
$3,813 £2,806
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,249 £919
$1,158 £852
$1,362 £1,002
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,218 £3,104
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,551 £1,141
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.45
3
5.9
Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
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Cost of Living in Durham - Frequently Asked Questions
How affordable is Durham overall, and who tends to get the best value for living costs for travelers, expats, and digital nomads?
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.
What does a typical day look like for housing, groceries, transport, coworking, and errands in Durham?
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.
What strategies help you maximize quality of life in Durham, including budgeting, neighborhood fit, and seasonal considerations?
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.
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