City comparison
Washington, DC vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 12.9% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $112,900 in Washington, DC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,015 a month in Washington, DC versus $1,513 in Wilmington, NC. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 24% in Wilmington, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,050 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Wilmington, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.6% moving from Washington, DC to Wilmington, NC ($121,785 → $106,437), while prices change by −11.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.3% in real buying power.
- Washington, DC: price level 108.9 (much pricier)
- 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
| Washington, DC | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 108.9 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $88,555 in Wilmington | $112,924 in Washington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,015/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $73,649 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,532 (DC) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 33% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $71,060 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Washington | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 151.1 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 104.8 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 106.7 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 102.3 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 108.9 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Washington, DC → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +12.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$2,050/yr.
100 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.4%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$2,050/yr.
26 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Washington, DC is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Washington, DC to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Washington, DC | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Washington → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $61,722 | −1.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $74,678 | −1.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $89,508 | −1.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $106,437 | −1.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $125,776 | −1.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Washington, DC | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Washington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,470 | $48,240 | $54,475 (−31.5%) |
| Software Developers | $154,930 | $123,730 | $139,721 (−9.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $102,140 | $77,920 | $87,991 (−13.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $102,710 | $80,970 | $91,435 (−11.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.