City comparison
Gulfport, MS vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Wilmington, NC are 7.1% higher than in Gulfport, MS. Someone earning $100,000 in Gulfport, MS would need about $107,100 in Wilmington, NC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,513 a month in Wilmington, NC versus $923 in Gulfport, MS. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Wilmington, NC and 15% in Gulfport, MS.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,268 a year in MS and $3,481 in NC.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Gulfport, MS to Wilmington, NC changes real buying power by −6.7%, purely from prices.
- Gulfport, MS: price level 90.0 (much cheaper)
- 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
| Gulfport, MS | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 90.0 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,128 in Wilmington | $93,346 in Gulfport |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $923/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,912 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,268 (MS) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $43,470 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Gulfport-Biloxi, MS HUD Metro FMR Area and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Gulfport-Biloxi, MS and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Gulfport | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 67.9 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 76.3 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 96.1 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 90.0 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Gulfport, MS → Wilmington, NC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$213/yr.
48 Fair offer
Wilmington, NC → Gulfport, MS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$213/yr.
91 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Gulfport, MS to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Gulfport, MS | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Gulfport → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −6.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −6.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −6.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −6.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −6.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Gulfport, MS | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Gulfport dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,820 | $48,240 | $45,030 (−11.4%) |
| Software Developers | $104,240 | $123,730 | $115,497 (+10.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,380 | $77,920 | $72,735 (−4.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $78,960 | $80,970 | $75,582 (−4.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.