City comparison
Milwaukee, WI vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Milwaukee, WI (96.9) and Wilmington, NC (96.4, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Milwaukee, WI goes as far as $99,500 in Wilmington, NC.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,513 a month in Wilmington, NC versus $1,119 in Milwaukee, WI. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Wilmington, NC and 18% in Milwaukee, WI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $438 a year higher in Milwaukee, WI than in Wilmington, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.4% moving from Milwaukee, WI to Wilmington, NC ($111,310 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.9% in real buying power.
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (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
| Milwaukee, WI | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.9 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,469 in Wilmington | $100,534 in Milwaukee |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,119/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,261 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,919 (WI) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,160 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Milwaukee | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.1 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 91.6 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 96.9 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Milwaukee, WI → Wilmington, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$438/yr.
70 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Milwaukee, WI
Roughly even
Buying power −0.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$438/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Milwaukee, WI is in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Milwaukee, WI to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Milwaukee, WI | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Milwaukee → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,548 | $61,722 | −3.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,098 | $74,678 | −3.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,606 | $89,508 | −3.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,310 | $106,437 | −3.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,535 | $125,776 | −3.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Milwaukee, WI | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Milwaukee dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,480 | $48,240 | $48,498 (−21.1%) |
| Software Developers | $123,730 | $123,730 | $124,391 (+0.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,290 | $77,920 | $78,336 (−2.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,360 | $80,970 | $81,402 (−16.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.