City comparison
Charlotte, NC vs Durham, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Charlotte, NC (97.3) and Durham, NC (97.6, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Charlotte, NC goes as far as $100,200 in Durham, NC.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,538 a month in Charlotte, NC and $1,507 in Durham, NC.
- Both are in NC, so estimated state income tax is the same: $3,481 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +2.1% moving from Charlotte, NC to Durham, NC ($108,810 → $111,147), while prices change by +0.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.9% in real buying power.
- Charlotte, NC: price level 97.3 (cheaper)
- Durham, NC: price level 97.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charlotte, NC | Durham, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.3 | 97.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,230 in Durham | $99,770 in Charlotte |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,538/mo | $1,507/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,990 | $60,720 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC |
Rent areas: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Durham-Chapel Hill, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC and Durham-Chapel Hill, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charlotte | Durham |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.6 | 98.9 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 89.3 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 97.3 | 97.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charlotte, NC → Durham, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.2%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
68 Fair offer
Durham, NC → Charlotte, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.2%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
69 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charlotte, NC is in the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC pay area; Durham, NC is in Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC. The last column shows what a transfer from Charlotte, NC to Durham, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charlotte, NC | Durham, NC | Real change, Charlotte → Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,098 | $64,453 | +1.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,343 | $77,983 | +1.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,503 | $93,468 | +1.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,810 | $111,147 | +1.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,581 | $131,342 | +1.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charlotte, NC | Durham, NC | Durham pay in Charlotte dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $58,680 | $51,400 | $51,282 (−12.6%) |
| Software Developers | $135,920 | $135,620 | $135,309 (−0.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,910 | $85,090 | $84,895 (−8.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $90,620 | not published | — |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.