Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Durham County, NC would need to be about $35,010 in Caldwell County, NC, or $14,990 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Durham County, NC vs Caldwell County, NC: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Caldwell County, NC is cheaper than Durham County, NC.
Moving to Caldwell County, NC is estimated to save $18,669 per year.
Cheaper County
Caldwell County, NCSave about $18,669 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Durham County, NC is about $35,010 in Caldwell County, NC.
Biggest drivers
Transport increases by $1,036 per year. Housing saves $10,286 per year.
Housing: $10,286 lower in Caldwell County, NC
Taxes: $5,345 lower in Caldwell County, NC
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $42 higher in Caldwell County, NC
Food: $704 lower in Caldwell County, NC
Transport: $1,036 higher in Caldwell County, NC
Durham County, NC→Caldwell County, NC
Equivalent salary in Caldwell County, NC
$35,010
-29.98% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Durham County, NC: $103,036
Median Income in Caldwell County, NC: $70,707
Living Index in Durham County, NC 60.44%
Living Index in Caldwell County, NC 61.68%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Durham County, NC to Caldwell County, NC.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Durham County, NC to Caldwell County, NC is estimated to save $18,669 per year. A $50,000 salary in Durham County, NC would have similar purchasing power to about $35,010 in Caldwell County, NC. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -29.98% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $10,286 per year lower (-54.03%); Taxes is $5,345 per year lower (-38.99%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Durham County, NC and Caldwell County, NC, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 60.4% of median family income in Durham County, NC and 61.7% in Caldwell County, NC. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $10,286 per year lower in Caldwell County, NC than in Durham County, NC. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Caldwell County, NC changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $704 per year lower in Caldwell County, NC than in Durham County, NC. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Caldwell County, NC can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $1,036 per year higher in Caldwell County, NC than in Durham County, NC. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Caldwell County, NC.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $42 per year higher in Caldwell County, NC than in Durham County, NC. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Caldwell County, NC changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $3,412 per year lower in Caldwell County, NC than in Durham County, NC. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Caldwell County, NC help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Durham County, NC and Caldwell County, NC, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Caldwell County, NC, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $5,345 per year lower in Caldwell County, NC than in Durham County, NC. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Caldwell County, NC matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Caldwell County, NC.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Caldwell County, NC
Annual Increase:
$1,036 per year
TRANSPORT has the largest annual increase when moving to Caldwell County, NC.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Caldwell County, NC
Annual Savings:
$10,286 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Caldwell County, NC.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -54% lower | |
| Food | -16% lower | |
| Transport | 8% higher | |
| Healthcare | 1% higher | |
| Other Costs | -47% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -39% lower |
In Caldwell County, NC, modeled annual costs are $43,611 compared with $62,280 in Durham County, NC.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Caldwell County, NC. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Caldwell County, NC and Durham County, NC are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
