Dunwoody, GA vs Chapel Hill, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Chapel Hill, NC has a modeled overall cost index 4.3% lower than Dunwoody, GA.

Dunwoody, GA · modeled 2BR rent: $2,480 / month
Chapel Hill, NC · modeled 2BR rent: $1,810 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Dunwoody, GA and Chapel Hill, NC using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Dunwoody, GA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $247/month in Chapel Hill, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $147,038 in Chapel Hill, NC

Regional cost estimates: Dunwoody, GA uses Atlanta, GA. Chapel Hill, NC uses Durham, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 4.3%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$247

Savings

Annual Impact

$3.0K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Dunwoody, GA

Population:52K

Cost Index:

100.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$686K

Chapel Hill, NC

Population:62K

Cost Index:

96.4

100 = national average

Typical Home:$612K

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Dunwoody, GA

The Peach State

52K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Georgia, this city has a population of 52K residents.

Chapel Hill, NC

The Tar Heel State

62K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 62K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Dunwoody, GA vs Chapel Hill, NC

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Dunwoody, GA	Chapel Hill, NC	Difference	Change
Other	$1,822/mo	$1,671/mo	↓ $151less	8.3%
Transportation	$1,371/mo	$1,233/mo	↓ $138less	10.1%
Housing	$2,236/mo	$2,290/mo	↑ $53.65more	2.4%
All Utilities	$568/mo	$534/mo	↓ $33.45less	5.9%
Healthcare	$571/mo	$588/mo	↑ $16.09more	2.8%
Groceries	$931/mo	$938/mo	↑ $6.47more	0.7%

Other

↓ 8.3%

Dunwoody, GA

$1,822

Chapel Hill, NC

$1,671

Difference

$151

less

Transportation

↓ 10.1%

Dunwoody, GA

$1,371

Chapel Hill, NC

$1,233

Difference

$138

less

Housing

↑ 2.4%

Dunwoody, GA

$2,236

Chapel Hill, NC

$2,290

Difference

$53.65

All Utilities

↓ 5.9%

Dunwoody, GA

$568

Chapel Hill, NC

$534

Difference

$33.45

less

Healthcare

↑ 2.8%

Dunwoody, GA

$571

Chapel Hill, NC

$588

Difference

$16.09

Groceries

↑ 0.7%

Dunwoody, GA

$931

Chapel Hill, NC

$938

Difference

$6.47

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,160

To$1,500

↓ $660

1 Bed

From$2,260

To$1,595

↓ $665

2 Bed

From$2,480

To$1,810

↓ $670

3 Bed

From$2,970

To$2,240

↓ $730

Dunwoody, GAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,260–$2,260/mo

Chapel Hill, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,510–$1,680/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Dunwoody, GA

$7,253

Monthly in Chapel Hill, NC

$247

Difference

Home Values

Dunwoody

Chapel Hill

$686K

Median Value

$612K

↑ +2.1%

YoY Change

↓ -0.7%

↑ +36.5%

5-Year Change

↑ +45.7%

$686K

Price Range

$594K - $629K

Homes in Chapel Hill are 11% less expensive than Dunwoody

Calculate payment - Dunwoody Calculate payment - Chapel Hill

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $1.3K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$111

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.9%

Rate difference

Dunwoody, GA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Georgia State Tax

Effective: 5.6%

$8.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.3%

$45.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,711/month

$104.5K

Chapel Hill, NC

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

North Carolina State Tax

Effective: 4.8%

$7.1K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.4%

$44.1K

Take-Home Pay

$8,822/month

$105.9K

Additional Tax Information

Dunwoody, GA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.3%

Property Tax:0.9%

Chapel Hill, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Dunwoody

Chapel Hill

50 Good

Air Quality

51 Moderate

50.8%

Good Air Days

46.4%

96 High

Climate Risk

90 Moderate

🌊🌪💨

Top Hazards

🌪💨

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

28 days

Heat Days >95°F

36 days

▲+2.7°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

28 days

Heat Days >95°F

36 days

Before moving from Dunwoody, GA to Chapel Hill, NC

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Chapel Hill, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Dunwoody, GA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Dunwoody to Chapel Hill moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Chapel Hill, NC by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Dunwoody, GA vs Chapel Hill, NC

How do the cost estimates for Dunwoody, GA and Chapel Hill, NC compare?

Chapel Hill, NC has a modeled overall cost index 4.3% lower than Dunwoody, GA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Dunwoody, GA, the model estimates $147,038 in Chapel Hill, NC. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Dunwoody, GA and Chapel Hill, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,480/month in Dunwoody, GA and $1,810/month in Chapel Hill, NC. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Georgia and North Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com