Charlotte, NC vs Durham, NC
Simple answer
You'd likely save $40 a month in Durham.
This is the HUD 2-bedroom fair-market rent for October 2026 through September 2027. It is not your lease.
The largest cost gap in this pair is Fair Market Rent. The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gap is $40: Charlotte is higher at $1,785 versus $1,745.
North Carolina taxes wages at a flat 3.99%. North Carolina taxes wages at a flat 3.99%. Combined sales tax differs by 0.0 percentage points, higher in North Carolina. The effective property tax gap is 0.00 percentage points, higher in North Carolina.
Both metros are in North Carolina, so benefit eligibility in this tool does not change with the move. Rent and price levels still differ.
A $75,000 salary in Charlotte lines up with about $75,173 in Durham on the 2024 all-items price parity. Census median gross rent and the commute figures are 2024. Fair Market Rents are fiscal year 2027.
Charlotte
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $1,785
- HUD area
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HUD Metro FMR Area
- Census median gross rent
- $1,594
- All-items price parity
- 97.3
- Goods price parity
- 96.6
- Utilities price parity
- 89.2
- Mean commute
- 27.5 min
- Median household income
- $85,938
Durham
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $1,745
- HUD area
- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC HUD Metro FMR Area
- Census median gross rent
- $1,598
- All-items price parity
- 97.6
- Goods price parity
- 96.6
- Utilities price parity
- 89.3
- Mean commute
- 24.4 min
- Median household income
- $83,542
Equivalent salary
The first number keeps the same place in the national price level. The second also runs 2026 federal income tax, employee Social Security and Medicare, and a simplified state income tax. Groceries use the BEA goods price parity, not a grocery receipt.
$75,173
Salary in Durham that matches the 2024 all-items regional price parity.
$75,205
Gross salary in Durham whose after-tax pay buys the same basket, using price parities.
$73,319
Scales the salary by the ratio of HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents. Rent is not the whole budget.
Taxes on the two sides of the move
| Tax | North Carolina | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax on wages | 3.99% flat | 3.99% flat |
| Combined sales tax, Jan 1, 2026 | 7.0% | 7.0% |
| Effective property tax, ACS 2024 median / median | 0.61% | 0.61% |
On a $400,000 home, the state median effective rate implies about $2,455 a year in North Carolina and $2,455 in North Carolina. That illustration is not a local bill. Childcare prices are not in the verified dataset for these metros.
Benefits if you land in North Carolina
Charlotte and Durham are in North Carolina. The benefit rules in this tool are statewide, so the statuses match. Rent and prices still differ.
Food stamps (SNAP)
CharlotteLikely eligible
DurhamLikely eligible
Medicaid and CHIP
CharlotteLikely eligible
DurhamLikely eligible
WIC
CharlotteLikely eligible
DurhamLikely eligible
School meals
CharlotteLikely eligible
DurhamLikely eligible
LIHEAP
CharlotteMaybe
DurhamMaybe
Earned Income Tax Credit
CharlotteLikely eligible
DurhamLikely eligible
Child Tax Credit
CharlotteLikely eligible
DurhamLikely eligible
Marketplace premium tax credits
CharlotteUnlikely
DurhamUnlikely
Lifeline phone and internet
CharlotteLikely eligible
DurhamLikely eligible
SSI
CharlotteUnlikely
DurhamUnlikely
| Program | Charlotte | Durham |
|---|---|---|
| Food stamps (SNAP) | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Medicaid and CHIP | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| WIC | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| School meals | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| LIHEAP | Maybe | Maybe |
| Earned Income Tax Credit | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Child Tax Credit | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Marketplace premium tax credits | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Lifeline phone and internet | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| SSI | Unlikely | Unlikely |
Related comparisons
From Charlotte
The eight largest 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gaps from Charlotte.
- Charlotte and San Francisco · rent gap $1,912
- Charlotte and San Jose · rent gap $1,487
- Charlotte and Boston · rent gap $1,223
- Charlotte and New York · rent gap $1,186
- Charlotte and Los Angeles · rent gap $1,179
- Charlotte and San Diego · rent gap $1,038
- Charlotte and Miami · rent gap $779
- Charlotte and McAllen · rent gap $768
Nearby metros
How the salary and tax math works · The reverse city order redirects to this address.