City comparison
Ogden, UT vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Ogden, UT are 4.1% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $104,100 in Ogden, UT to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,513 a month in Wilmington, NC versus $1,281 in Ogden, UT. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Wilmington, NC and 20% in Ogden, UT.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,534 a year in UT 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 Ogden, UT to Wilmington, NC changes real buying power by +4.1%, purely from prices.
- Ogden, UT: price level 100.3 (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
| Ogden, UT | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.3 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,087 in Wilmington | $104,073 in Ogden |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,281/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,646 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,534 (UT) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,900 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Ogden, UT MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Ogden, UT and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Ogden | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 117.9 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 78.8 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 99.0 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 100.3 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Ogden, UT → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$53/yr.
81 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Ogden, UT
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.9%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$53/yr.
57 Fair 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 Ogden, UT to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Ogden, UT | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Ogden → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +4.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +4.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +4.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +4.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +4.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Ogden, UT | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Ogden dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,910 | $48,240 | $50,205 (−21.4%) |
| Software Developers | $109,880 | $123,730 | $128,769 (+17.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,010 | $77,920 | $81,093 (−1.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,840 | $80,970 | $84,268 (+3.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.