City comparison
Raleigh, NC vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.8% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $101,800 in Raleigh, NC to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,596 a month in Raleigh, NC versus $1,513 in Wilmington, NC. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Raleigh, NC and 24% in Wilmington, NC.
- Both are in NC, so estimated state income tax is the same: $3,481 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Raleigh, NC to Wilmington, NC ($111,147 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.5% in real buying power.
- Raleigh, NC: price level 98.2 (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
| Raleigh, NC | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.2 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,232 in Wilmington | $101,799 in Raleigh |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,596/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,990 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Raleigh-Cary, NC and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Raleigh | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 103.5 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 98.2 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Raleigh, NC → Wilmington, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +1.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
74 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Raleigh, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −1.8%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
63 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Raleigh, NC is in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Raleigh, NC to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Raleigh, NC | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Raleigh → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,453 | $61,722 | −2.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,983 | $74,678 | −2.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,468 | $89,508 | −2.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,147 | $106,437 | −2.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,342 | $125,776 | −2.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Raleigh, NC | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Raleigh dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,170 | $48,240 | $49,108 (−18.4%) |
| Software Developers | $132,770 | $123,730 | $125,956 (−5.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $81,950 | $77,920 | $79,322 (−3.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,830 | $80,970 | $82,427 (−2.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.