Wilmington, NC Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Wilmington, NC Summary

Cost of living in Wilmington research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Wilmington is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in North Carolina, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Wilmington is 105, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Wilmington is 1.1x higher than the national average.

  • Wilmington ranks as the #119 cheapest in North Carolina out of 153.

  • Wilmington ranks as the #3,676 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Wilmington is $279,900.

  • The median income in Wilmington is $54,066.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
105
Wilmington's Overall Cost Of Living
1.1x
Higher Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Wilmington, NC?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Wilmington has an overall cost of living index of 105, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.

Compared to North Carolina, Wilmington has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.

The standard of living in Wilmington ranks as #119 most affordable out of the 153 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Wilmington ranks as the #34 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.

For more reading on life in Wilmington, check out:

119 out of 153
In North Carolina
3,676 out of 6,412
In America

Wilmington Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Wilmington. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Wilmington is 100.

  • The Groceries index in Wilmington is 99.

  • The Health index in Wilmington is 108.

  • The Housing index in Wilmington is 114.

  • The Transportation index in Wilmington is 108.

  • The Utilities index in Wilmington is 104.

Living Expense Wilmington North Carolina National Average
Overall 105 95 100
Services 100 97 100
Groceries 99 98 100
Health 108 108 100
Housing 114 91 100
Transportation 108 92 100
Utilities 104 95 100
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
Wilmington Cost of Living Vs. NC

Wilmington, NC Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Carolina, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Wilmington is $279,900.

  • The Median Rent in Wilmington is $1,093.

  • The Median Income in Wilmington is $54,066.

  • The Home Value To Income in Wilmington is 5.2x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Wilmington is 0.24x.

Statistic Wilmington North Carolina United States
Median Home Value $279,900 $197,500 $244,900
Median Rent $1,093 $988 $1,163
Median Income $54,066 $60,516 $69,021
Home Value To Income 5.2x 3.3x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.24x 0.2x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Wilmington, NC
$279,900
Median Home Value
$1,093
Median Rent
$54,066
Median Income

Wilmington, NC Costs By Category

Detailed Wilmington Services Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Wilmington North Carolina
Shampoo $1.07 $1.06
Movie $10.35 $10.68
Bowling $13.67 $14.67
Haircut $15.0 $18.62
Beauty Salon $42.5 $39.05

Detailed Wilmington Groceries Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Wilmington North Carolina
Ground Beef $4.32 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.48 $1.39
Milk $2.58 $2.05
Potatoes $4.3 $3.29
Pizza $8.99 $10.62
Beer $9.69 $9.38
Toothpaste $3.23 $2.34

Detailed Wilmington Health Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Wilmington North Carolina
Optometrist $116.4 $108.57
Doctor $121.67 $116.17
Dentist $120.22 $99.13

Detailed Wilmington Transportation Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Wilmington North Carolina
Gasoline $2.5 $2.22
Tire Balancing $63.96 $50.07

Detailed Wilmington Utilities Costs Vs. North Carolina

Item Wilmington North Carolina
All Electricity $180.8 $167.67
Phone $177.09 $175.64

Wilmington SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
8.5
Affordability
4
Diversity
8.5
Safety
4
Amenities
9
Education
8.5
Commute
9

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Wilmington

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Wilmington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Leland, NC has a cost of living index of 103, 1.0x Wilmington.

  • Murraysville, NC has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Wilmington.

  • Myrtle Grove, NC has a cost of living index of 111, 1.1x Wilmington.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Wilmington
Leland, NC 22,794 103 1.0x
Murraysville, NC 15,976 102 1.0x
Myrtle Grove, NC 11,672 111 1.1x
Kings Grant, NC 9,071 97 0.9x
Ogden, NC 8,613 112 1.1x
Porters Neck, NC 7,221 128 1.2x
Carolina Beach, NC 6,456 117 1.1x
Boiling Spring Lakes, NC 5,863 98 0.9x
Silver Lake, NC 5,690 98 0.9x

Articles About North Carolina

Enjoy The Snack?