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What Salary Do You Need to Live Comfortably in Durham-Chapel Hill?

You need roughly $51,000/year to live comfortably in Durham-Chapel Hill. After taxes that’s about $3,436/month, which covers a 2-bedroom at HUD’s Fair Market Rent of $1,711/month, groceries, transport, healthcare, and a 20% savings buffer. Of the occupations BLS tracks in Durham, about 10 pay at least that much at the median. Comfortable, but not by much.

Monthly budget to live comfortably

Based on HUD FMR for Durham-Chapel Hill (RPP 97.57). All figures are monthly unless noted.

ExpenseMonthlyAnnual
Rent (HUD FMR 2BR)$1,711$20,532
Groceries$450$5,400
Transportation$350$4,200
Healthcare$200$2,400
Savings (20%)$687$8,244
Required take-home$3,436$41,232
Required gross salary$51,000/year

Jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill that pay $51,000+/year

These occupations have median salaries at or above what you need to live comfortably.

Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
, median $161,600/yr
Economists
, median $108,020/yr
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
, median $66,190/yr
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
, median $66,090/yr
Calibration Technologists and Technicians
, median $60,100/yr
Compensation and Benefits Managers
, median $100,700/yr
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other
, median $76,080/yr
Real Estate Brokers
, median $92,310/yr
Soil and Plant Scientists
, median $74,010/yr
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary
, median $100,820/yr

Compare all lifestyles in Durham-Chapel Hill

What salary you need to live budget, comfortably, or well.

Living On a Budget(1BR at $1,711/mo)
$40,000/yrView →
Living Comfortably(2BR at $1,711/mo)
$51,000/yr
Living Well(3BR at $2,224/mo)
$75,000/yrView →

Keep exploring Durham-Chapel Hill

All salariesCost of livingAfford a 2BRTake-home calculator

Frequently asked questions

What salary do you need to live comfortably in Durham-Chapel Hill?
To live comfortably in Durham-Chapel Hill you need roughly $51,000/year gross, or about $3,436/month in take-home pay. This covers rent at the HUD FMR of $1,711/month, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and 20% savings.
Is this realistic for the Durham-Chapel Hill job market?
10 BLS-tracked occupations in the Durham-Chapel Hill metro pay $51,000/year or more at the median. A limited number of fields hit this bar.
How much of that goes to rent?
Rent takes 50% of monthly take-home in this scenario. The HUD Fair Market Rent for Durham-Chapel Hill is $1,711/month for a 2-bedroom. The rest splits across groceries ($450), transportation ($350), and healthcare ($200).
What if I want to save more than 20%?
This budget targets a 20% savings rate. To push that to 30%, add roughly 10 to 15% to the gross figure, putting you near $57,120/year. Alternatively, trim variable costs. Groceries and transportation have more flexibility than rent.
How does Durham-Chapel Hill compare to other metros for this lifestyle?
The bare minimum in Durham-Chapel Hill is around $40,000/year on a tight budget, covering a 1-bedroom at the HUD FMR. A comfortable lifestyle requires $51,000/year. Use the comparison table above or the compare tool to check other metros side by side.

Source data is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and other federal agencies. AffordMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Per BLS policy, "BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov."

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