City comparison
Chicago, IL vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Chicago, IL are 7.4% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $107,400 in Chicago, IL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,581 a month in Chicago, IL and $1,513 in Wilmington, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,324 a year higher in Chicago, IL than in Wilmington, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.5% moving from Chicago, IL to Wilmington, NC ($118,984 → $106,437), while prices change by −6.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.9% in real buying power.
- Chicago, IL: price level 103.6 (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
| Chicago, IL | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,076 in Wilmington | $107,439 in Chicago |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,581/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,720 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chicago | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 112.0 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 83.6 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 100.5 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chicago, IL → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.4%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$1,324/yr.
92 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Chicago, IL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.9%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$1,324/yr.
46 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Chicago, IL is in the Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Chicago, IL to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chicago, IL | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Chicago → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,999 | $61,722 | −3.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,482 | $74,678 | −3.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,059 | $89,508 | −3.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,984 | $106,437 | −3.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,604 | $125,776 | −3.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chicago, IL | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Chicago dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,390 | $48,240 | $51,829 (−33.9%) |
| Software Developers | $134,380 | $123,730 | $132,934 (−1.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,360 | $77,920 | $83,717 (+1.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $100,490 | $80,970 | $86,993 (−13.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.