City comparison
Bremerton, WA vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Bremerton, WA are 9.5% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $109,500 in Bremerton, WA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,548 a month in Bremerton, WA and $1,513 in Wilmington, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Wilmington, NC than in Bremerton, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.0% moving from Bremerton, WA to Wilmington, NC ($119,630 → $106,437), while prices change by −8.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.6% in real buying power.
- Bremerton, WA: price level 105.6 (pricier)
- Wilmington, NC: price level 96.4 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Bremerton, WA | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.6 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,303 in Wilmington | $109,526 in Bremerton |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,548/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (WA) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $63,200 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Seattle-Tacoma, WA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Bremerton | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 129.6 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 105.0 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 92.0 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 105.6 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Bremerton, WA → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
99 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Bremerton, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.7%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
42 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Bremerton, WA is in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Bremerton, WA to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Bremerton, WA | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Bremerton → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,373 | $61,722 | −2.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,935 | $74,678 | −2.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,602 | $89,508 | −2.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $119,630 | $106,437 | −2.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,367 | $125,776 | −2.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Bremerton, WA | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Bremerton dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $102,650 | $48,240 | $52,835 (−48.5%) |
| Software Developers | $146,200 | $123,730 | $135,516 (−7.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $88,250 | $77,920 | $85,343 (−3.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $107,220 | $80,970 | $88,683 (−17.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.