Cost of Living in Wilmington, NC
Wilmington, NC — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Wilmington, NC to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Wilmington, NC?
With a price level of 96.4 (U.S. average = 100), Wilmington, NC is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 7% below average; everyday goods are 3% below average; utilities are 12% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 2% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Wilmington, NC vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.4 | −3.6% |
| Housing | 93.2 | −6.8% |
| Goods | 96.6 | −3.4% |
| Utilities | 87.9 | −12.1% |
| Other services | 98.2 | −1.8% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Wilmington, NC
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,158 | $46,320/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,380 | $55,200/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,512 | $60,480/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,035 | $81,400/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,291 | $91,640/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Wilmington, NC
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Wilmington, NC | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $38,600 | $32,164 |
| $60,000 | $57,900 | $46,901 |
| $80,000 | $77,100 | $60,502 |
| $100,000 | $96,400 | $73,310 |
| $150,000 | $144,600 | $104,839 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, North Carolina 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Wilmington, NC's median wage of $45,800 takes home about $3,138 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,380, which is 44% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $1,758 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Wilmington, NC
- Federal income tax$3,316
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,840
- Medicare (1.45%)$664
- North Carolina income tax$1,319
- Take-home pay$37,662
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Highest-paying jobs in Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $90,270 | $69,242 | $71,811 |
| Registered Nurse | $80,970 | $63,070 | $65,411 |
| Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant | $40,040 | $33,263 | $34,498 |
| Office Clerks, General | $39,380 | $32,759 | $33,975 |
| Customer Service Representative | $38,100 | $31,782 | $32,961 |
| Nursing Assistant | $37,710 | $31,484 | $32,652 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $37,160 | $31,064 | $32,217 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $35,300 | $29,644 | $30,744 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $34,940 | $29,369 | $30,459 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $31,540 | $26,773 | $27,766 |
| Retail Salesperson | $30,790 | $26,200 | $27,172 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $30,610 | $26,063 | $27,030 |
| Cashier | $28,520 | $24,467 | $25,374 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $27,500 | $23,668 | $24,546 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $27,460 | $23,636 | $24,513 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in North Carolina cities
Half of North Carolina’s 4,941,820 workers earn less than $47,970 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,030–$75,610 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Durham, NC stretches a paycheck furthest, while Jacksonville, NC is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | $49,990 | 97.3 | $1,428 | 42% | $1,977 | $41,974 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $49,430 | 97.9 | $1,508 | 45% | $1,861 | $41,284 |
| Raleigh, NC | $51,990 | 98.2 | $1,596 | 45% | $1,936 | $43,184 |
| Greensboro, NC | $46,570 | 92.9 | $1,164 | 37% | $2,023 | $41,188 |
| Durham, NC | $60,720 | 97.6 | $1,456 | 36% | $2,632 | $50,275 |
| Winston, NC | $46,380 | 92.0 | $1,031 | 32% | $2,144 | $41,399 |
| Wilmington, NC | $45,800 | 96.4 | $1,380 | 44% | $1,758 | $39,059 |
| Asheville, NC | $46,870 | 96.5 | $1,429 | 45% | $1,778 | $39,872 |
| Hickory, NC | $45,220 | 88.5 | $908 | 29% | $2,194 | $42,062 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $45,620 | 92.0 | $1,065 | 34% | $2,062 | $40,797 |
| Greenville, NC | $46,560 | 88.4 | $896 | 28% | $2,291 | $43,259 |
| Burlington, NC | $44,010 | 93.2 | $1,230 | 41% | $1,795 | $38,945 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $43,960 | 88.0 | $918 | 30% | $2,103 | $41,195 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $40,230 | 92.1 | $935 | 34% | $1,849 | $36,280 |
| Pinehurst, NC | $42,920 | 88.3 | $1,239 | 42% | $1,716 | $40,145 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Wilmington, NC vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NC | 96.4 | $1,380 | $45,800 | 191,280 |
| Pensacola, FL | 97.7 | $1,257 | $46,240 | 190,480 |
| Boulder, CO | 105.2 | $1,795 | $69,580 | 192,390 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 92.7 | $1,115 | $45,350 | 192,580 |
| Salem, OR | 103.6 | $1,201 | $55,310 | 188,620 |
| Modesto, CA | 104.1 | $1,356 | $50,610 | 195,230 |
| Salinas, CA | 109.0 | $2,232 | $47,380 | 186,430 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Wilmington, NC expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Wilmington, NC metro area are 96.4% of the U.S. average, with housing at 93.2%. It is the #141 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Wilmington, NC?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $57,853 in Wilmington, NC (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $45,800.
Can you afford Wilmington, NC on the median wage?
A single worker on the $45,800 median wage takes home about $3,138 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,380 would take 44% of that.
How much is rent in Wilmington, NC?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Wilmington, NC are $1,158 for a studio, $1,380 for one bedroom, $1,512 for two bedrooms and $2,035 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Wilmington, NC
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $90,270
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $80,970
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $37,710
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $31,540
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,940
- Waiter and Waitress — $30,610
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,500
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,460
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $30,790
- Cashier — $28,520
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $40,040
- Office Clerks, General — $39,380
- Customer Service Representative — $38,100
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,160
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,300