City comparison
Austin, TX vs Durham, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Austin, TX (98.1) and Durham, NC (97.6, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Austin, TX goes as far as $99,500 in Durham, NC.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,562 a month in Austin, TX and $1,507 in Durham, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Durham, NC than in Austin, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.6% moving from Austin, TX to Durham, NC ($109,428 → $111,147), while prices change by −0.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.1% in real buying power.
- Austin, TX: price level 98.1 (about average)
- 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
| Austin, TX | Durham, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.1 | 97.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,496 in Durham | $100,506 in Austin |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,562/mo | $1,507/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,950 | $60,720 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC |
Rent areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA and Durham-Chapel Hill, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and Durham-Chapel Hill, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Austin | Durham |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 120.4 | 98.9 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 89.3 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 98.1 | 97.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Austin, TX → Durham, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
70 Strong offer
Durham, NC → Austin, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −0.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Austin, TX is in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX pay area; Durham, NC is in Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC. The last column shows what a transfer from Austin, TX to Durham, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Austin, TX | Durham, NC | Real change, Austin → Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,457 | $64,453 | +2.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,777 | $77,983 | +2.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,023 | $93,468 | +2.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,428 | $111,147 | +2.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,311 | $131,342 | +2.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Austin, TX | Durham, NC | Durham pay in Austin dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,270 | $51,400 | $51,660 (−15.7%) |
| Software Developers | $134,120 | $135,620 | $136,307 (+1.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,120 | $85,090 | $85,521 (+2.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,890 | not published | — |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.