City Comparison · 2026
Durham vs Los Angeles
Salary, rent, taxes, and purchasing power compared
Purchasing Power
$100k in Durham = $156k in Los Angeles
Metric
Durham
Los Angeles
COL Index
✓1.13
1.76
1BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,500/mo
$2,450/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,880/mo
$3,200/mo
State Income Tax
NC
CA
$100k Take-Home
✓$74,236
$73,198
$100k Effective Rate
✓25.76%
26.8%
$100k Savings Potential
✓$56,236
$43,798
After-Tax Income by Salary
| Gross Salary | Durham NC | Los Angeles CA |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $47,548 $3,962/mo · 20.75% eff. | $48,276 $4,023/mo · 19.54% eff. |
| $100,000 | $74,236 $6,186/mo · 25.76% eff. | $73,198 $6,100/mo · 26.8% eff. |
| $150,000 | $106,528 $8,877/mo · 28.98% eff. | $103,090 $8,591/mo · 31.27% eff. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Durham or Los Angeles cheaper to live in?
Durham has a cost-of-living index of 1.13 while Los Angeles is 1.76 (1.00 = US average). Durham is cheaper overall. 1BR rent in Durham is $1,500/month vs $2,450/month in Los Angeles.
How much more do you need to earn in Los Angeles vs Durham?
$100k in Durham = $156k in Los Angeles. Cost of living in Los Angeles is higher by 55.8%.
Which city has better after-tax income — Durham or Los Angeles?
On a $100,000 salary, you take home $74,236 in NC (Durham) and $73,198 in CA (Los Angeles). After accounting for rent, your annual savings potential is $56,236 in Durham vs $43,798 in Los Angeles.
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