Head to head
Durham, NC vs Spokane, WA
Spokane is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $78/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $5,500 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Durham is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Durham63 | Spokane61 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $4,138 | $4,060 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $9,503 | $10,576 |
| Salary for comfort | $76,500/yr | $71,000/yr |
| Typical rent | $1,711 | $1,531 |
| Median home value | $355,300 | $326,200 |
| Median household income | $79,234 | $65,745 |
| Unemployment | 3.2% | 3.9% |
| Housing score | 56 | 45 |
| Jobs score | 65 | 73 |
| Safety score | 35 | 24 |
| Climate score | 100 | 86 |
| Amenities score | 28 | 38 |
| Population | 288.5K | 229.2K |
| Summer high / winter low | 90° / 31° | 83° / 25° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Durham, NC
Spokane, WA