Cost of living in Wilmington, North Carolina
Cost of living in Wilmington, North Carolina comes in 3.6% under the US average. In 2024, the metro area of Wilmington, NC had a regional price parity from BEA (RPP) of 96.4, and the US is 100. Housing alone is 93.2.
- The level of prices
- 96.4US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- 93.2. For rents, US = 100.
Cost of living index for Wilmington, North Carolina
The US average is set at 100. A regional price parity compares what one basket of goods and services costs in a place with it. Wilmington, North Carolina falls inside the Wilmington, NC metro area, and BEA measures prices for that whole area. Utilities are furthest from the US average, with an index of 87.9, or 12.1% below the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Wilmington, NC metro | North Carolina | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.4 | 94.3 | −3.6% |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 | −3.4% |
| Housing (rents) | 93.2 | 81.4 | −6.8% |
| Utilities | 87.9 | 88.6 | −12.1% |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 | −1.8% |
By metro area and state, 2024 regional price parities from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. BEA regional price parities
Cost of rent in Wilmington, North Carolina
Rent on homes listed now in Wilmington, North Carolina runs $1,713 a month at the typical level, according to Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Year over year, that asking rent is +4.8%. The US figure is $1,932. Census median gross rent is $1,541. This figure includes every renting household, not only those with new leases. One year of asking rent equals 33% of median household income.
| Rent | Wilmington, North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $1,713 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +4.8% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,541 | $1,487 |
| One year of asking rent as a share of median income | 33% | 28% |
One-year estimates from the Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024, plus the Zillow Observed Rent Index.
Prices of homes in Wilmington, North Carolina
Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) data placed the value of a typical Wilmington, North Carolina home at $416,464 in September 2026. This index tracks a typical home's value in the middle of the market. Year over year, that figure comes in +0.2%, while the US shows $366,157. For a typical home, that comes to 6.6 years of median household income, compared with 4.5 for the US.
| Home prices | Wilmington, North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $416,464 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | +0.2% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +93.6% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 6.6 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 20.3 | 15.8 |
Days on market, a forecast and the price chart since 2000: Wilmington, North Carolina housing market.
The salary you need to live in Wilmington, North Carolina
In Wilmington, North Carolina, the salary that matches what your pay buys today depends on two answers: your location, and your earnings.
- Moving from
- Salary
The method plus each city laid out side by side: city cost of living comparison.
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Cost of living in Wilmington, North Carolina compared with other cities
| City | The level of prices | Housing | Typical rent level | Value of a typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, North Carolina | 96.4 | 93.2 | $1,713 | $416,464 |
| Durham | 97.6 | 98.9 | $1,626 | $384,724 |
| Winston-Salem | 92.0 | 71.4 | $1,478 | $260,047 |
| Asheville | 96.5 | 93.4 | $1,726 | $444,478 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
| Phoenix | 103.3 | 121.2 | $1,571 | $404,067 |
Price levels come from BEA regional price parities, 2024, with US = 100. For rent, Zillow ZORI. For home value, Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
All cities ranked: cost of living comparison by city. All states: cost of living by state.