Cost of Living in Wilmington, NC
| Cost of Living in Wilmington, NC | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 10% lower | 23% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 6% higher | 4% higher |
| Food | 1% lower | 1% lower |
| Healthcare | 1% higher | 7% higher |
| Transportation | 15% higher | 9% higher |
| Goods & Services | 3% higher | 2% higher |
The cost of living in Wilmington, NC is 1% higher than the state average and 4% lower than the national average. Wilmington, NC housing is 23% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 4% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 1% cheaper in Wilmington, NC than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 2% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 7% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 2% pricier in Wilmington, NC.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Wilmington is $1,613, while home prices circle around $395,223.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Wilmington, energy bills cost around $207.23 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $6.23 in Wilmington, a dozen eggs go for around $4.63 and a pound of potatoes circles around $6.77.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Wilmington, an optometry check-up costs around $137.90, while a dentist appointment is priced $140.46 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.46 in Wilmington, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $78.07.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $32.69 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $43.87.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Wilmington, you should budget around $11.76 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $20.82, while dry cleaning costs about $15.95.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Wilmington, the median household income is $63,900.