Richmond, VA vs Durham, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Durham, NC has a modeled overall cost index 3.0% lower than Richmond, VA.

Richmond, VA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,710 / month
Durham, NC · modeled 2BR rent: $1,730 / 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 Richmond, VA and Durham, 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 Richmond, VA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $180/month in Durham, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $147,835 in Durham, NC

Regional cost estimates: Richmond, VA uses Richmond, VA Metropolitan Area. Durham, NC uses Raleigh-Cary, NC Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 3.0%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$180

Savings

Annual Impact

$2.2K

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.

Richmond, VA

Population:230K

Cost Index:

100.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$350K

Durham, NC

Population:325K

Cost Index:

97.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$411K

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Richmond, VA

The Old Dominion State

230K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Virginia, this city has a population of 230K residents.

Durham, NC

The Tar Heel State

325K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 325K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Richmond, VA vs Durham, 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	Richmond, VA	Durham, NC	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,463/mo	$2,388/mo	↓ $75.41less	3.1%
Other	$1,700/mo	$1,652/mo	↓ $48.58less	2.9%
Healthcare	$611/mo	$581/mo	↓ $29.97less	4.9%
All Utilities	$555/mo	$529/mo	↓ $26.43less	4.8%
Groceries	$928/mo	$928/mo	→ $0	0.0%
Transportation	$1,242/mo	$1,242/mo	→ $0	0.0%

Housing

↓ 3.1%

Richmond, VA

$2,463

Durham, NC

$2,388

Difference

$75.41

less

Other

↓ 2.9%

Richmond, VA

$1,700

Durham, NC

$1,652

Difference

$48.58

less

Healthcare

↓ 4.9%

Richmond, VA

$611

Durham, NC

$581

Difference

$29.97

less

All Utilities

↓ 4.8%

Richmond, VA

$555

Durham, NC

$529

Difference

$26.43

less

Groceries

→ 0.0%

Richmond, VA

$928

Durham, NC

$928

Difference

same

Transportation

→ 0.0%

Richmond, VA

$1,242

Durham, NC

$1,242

Difference

same

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,490

To$1,430

↓ $60.00

1 Bed

From$1,560

To$1,520

↓ $40.00

2 Bed

From$1,710

To$1,730

↑ $20.00

3 Bed

From$2,140

To$2,140

→ $0

Richmond, VAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,400–$1,920/mo

Durham, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,480–$1,750/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 Richmond, VA

$7,320

Monthly in Durham, NC

$180

Difference

Home Values

Richmond

Durham

$350K

Median Value

$411K

↑ +1.1%

YoY Change

↓ -0.5%

↑ +39.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +38%

$234K - $619K

Price Range

$306K - $461K

Homes in Durham are 17% more expensive than Richmond

Calculate payment - Richmond Calculate payment - Durham

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $1.2K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$104

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.8%

Rate difference

Richmond, VA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Virginia State Tax

Effective: 5.6%

$8.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.3%

$45.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,718/month

$104.6K

Durham, 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

Richmond, VA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.7%

Property Tax:0.8%

Durham, 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

Richmond

Durham

36 Good

Air Quality

51 Moderate

79.2%

Good Air Days

46.4%

78 Low

Climate Risk

90 Moderate

None

Top Hazards

🌪💨

▲+2.8°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

30 days

Heat Days >95°F

36 days

▲+2.8°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.7°F

30 days

Heat Days >95°F

36 days

Before moving from Richmond, VA to Durham, NC

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

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Durham, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Richmond, VA. 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 Richmond to Durham moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Richmond, VA vs Durham, NC

How do the cost estimates for Richmond, VA and Durham, NC compare?

Durham, NC has a modeled overall cost index 3.0% lower than Richmond, VA. 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 Richmond, VA, the model estimates $147,835 in Durham, 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 Richmond, VA and Durham, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,710/month in Richmond, VA and $1,730/month in Durham, 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 Virginia and North Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com