City comparison
Providence, RI vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Providence, RI are 5.5% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $105,500 in Providence, RI to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,513 a month in Wilmington, NC versus $1,402 in Providence, RI. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Wilmington, NC and 22% in Providence, RI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $333 a year higher in Wilmington, NC than in Providence, RI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.7% moving from Providence, RI to Wilmington, NC ($120,548 → $106,437), while prices change by −5.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.8% in real buying power.
- Providence, RI: price level 101.8 (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
| Providence, RI | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.8 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,742 in Wilmington | $105,550 in Providence |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,402/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (RI) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $53,680 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Providence-Warwick, RI-MA and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Providence | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 103.9 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 97.1 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 148.8 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 102.3 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 101.8 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Providence, RI → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$333/yr.
86 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Providence, RI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.3%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$333/yr.
52 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Providence, RI is in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Providence, RI to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Providence, RI | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Providence → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,905 | $61,722 | −6.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,579 | $74,678 | −6.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,375 | $89,508 | −6.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,548 | $106,437 | −6.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,452 | $125,776 | −6.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Providence, RI | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Providence dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $86,720 | $48,240 | $50,917 (−41.3%) |
| Software Developers | $130,690 | $123,730 | $130,596 (−0.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $95,020 | $77,920 | $82,244 (−13.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,880 | $80,970 | $85,463 (−14.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.