CostIndexUSA

Durham, NC vs Richmond, VA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostNC
Durham
97.6
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
VA
Richmond
97.9
overall index
$1,650/mo rent

Durham and Richmond have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing≈ Equal
Durham
98.9
Richmond
99.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Durham
96.6
Richmond
96.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Durham
103.1
Richmond
103.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Durham
93.3
Richmond
93.7
Utilities≈ Equal
Durham
89.3
Richmond
89.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Durham to see what you'd need to earn in Richmond to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Richmond, VA
$80,200
$200 more needed in Richmond

Formula: salary × (97.9 ÷ 97.6) = salary × 1.0031. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Durham, NC

Median Home Price
$402,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
98.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.3×

Richmond, VA

Median Home Price
$381,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
99.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.2×

Income & Job Market

Durham, NC

Median Household Income
$83,300
Per Capita Income
$47,500
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
Population
278,993
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareEducationResearchFinance

Richmond, VA

Median Household Income
$84,300
Per Capita Income
$48,100
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
226,610
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareGovernmentManufacturingEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Durham, NC
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Richmond, VA
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

77% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.