City comparison
Fort Collins, CO vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fort Collins, CO are 4.9% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $104,900 in Fort Collins, CO to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,537 a month in Fort Collins, CO and $1,513 in Wilmington, NC.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,692 a year in CO and $3,481 in NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.3% moving from Fort Collins, CO to Wilmington, NC ($118,675 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.9% in real buying power.
- Fort Collins, CO: price level 101.1 (about average)
- 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
| Fort Collins, CO | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.1 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,346 in Wilmington | $104,881 in Fort Collins |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,537/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,488 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,692 (CO) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $55,310 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Denver-Aurora, CO | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fort Collins-Loveland, CO MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fort Collins-Loveland, CO and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fort Collins | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 120.6 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 82.2 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 101.1 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fort Collins, CO → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$210/yr.
84 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Fort Collins, CO
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$210/yr.
54 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Fort Collins, CO is in the Denver-Aurora, CO pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Fort Collins, CO to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fort Collins, CO | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Fort Collins → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,819 | $61,722 | −5.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,265 | $74,678 | −5.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $99,800 | $89,508 | −5.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,675 | $106,437 | −5.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,239 | $125,776 | −5.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fort Collins, CO | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Fort Collins dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,930 | $48,240 | $50,594 (−19.6%) |
| Software Developers | $133,990 | $123,730 | $129,769 (−3.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $89,340 | $77,920 | $81,723 (−8.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,600 | $80,970 | $84,922 (−13.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.