City comparison
Lexington, KY vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Wilmington, NC are 3.8% higher than in Lexington, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Lexington, KY would need about $103,800 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 $1,079 in Lexington, KY. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Wilmington, NC and 17% in Lexington, KY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,382 a year in KY 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 Lexington, KY to Wilmington, NC changes real buying power by −3.7%, purely from prices.
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (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
| Lexington, KY | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,803 in Wilmington | $96,336 in Lexington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,079/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,798 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,382 (KY) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,620 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lexington | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.1 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 74.6 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 96.9 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lexington, KY → Wilmington, NC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$99/yr.
57 Fair offer
Wilmington, NC → Lexington, KY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.8%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$99/yr.
81 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 Lexington, KY to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lexington, KY | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Lexington → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −3.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −3.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −3.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −3.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −3.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lexington, KY | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Lexington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,460 | $48,240 | $46,472 (−24.4%) |
| Software Developers | $123,510 | $123,730 | $119,196 (−3.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,780 | $77,920 | $75,065 (−3.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,040 | $80,970 | $78,003 (−1.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.