City comparison
Tucson, AZ vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Tucson, AZ (96.9) and Wilmington, NC (96.4, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Tucson, AZ 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 $1,081 in Tucson, AZ. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Wilmington, NC and 17% in Tucson, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,190 a year higher in Wilmington, NC than in Tucson, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.9% moving from Tucson, AZ to Wilmington, NC ($108,455 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.4% in real buying power.
- Tucson, AZ: 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
| Tucson, AZ | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.9 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,511 in Wilmington | $100,492 in Tucson |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,081/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,889 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,291 (AZ) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,760 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Tucson-Nogales, AZ | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Tucson, AZ MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Tucson, AZ and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Tucson | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 91.8 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 89.5 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 96.9 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Tucson, AZ → Wilmington, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$1,190/yr.
70 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Tucson, AZ
Roughly even
Buying power −0.5%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,190/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Tucson, AZ is in the Tucson-Nogales, AZ pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Tucson, AZ to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Tucson, AZ | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Tucson → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,893 | $61,722 | −1.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,095 | $74,678 | −1.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,205 | $89,508 | −1.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,455 | $106,437 | −1.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,162 | $125,776 | −1.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Tucson, AZ | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Tucson dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $47,220 | $48,240 | $48,477 (+2.7%) |
| Software Developers | $123,710 | $123,730 | $124,338 (+0.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,320 | $77,920 | $78,303 (+2.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $94,110 | $80,970 | $81,368 (−13.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.