Cost of Living in Wilmington, NC
| Cost of Living in Wilmington, NC | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 9% lower | 23% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 6% higher | 4% higher |
| Food | 0% | 1% lower |
| Healthcare | 0% | 8% higher |
| Transportation | 17% higher | 10% higher |
| Goods & Services | 4% higher | 3% higher |
The cost of living in Wilmington, NC is 2% 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 3% more in Wilmington, NC than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 3% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 8% more here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 3% 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 $1,180, while home prices circle around $365,041.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Wilmington, energy bills cost around $190.86 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 $3.25 in Wilmington, a dozen eggs go for around $2.53 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.81.
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 $127.37, while a dentist appointment is priced $132.07 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.86 in Wilmington, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $74.04.
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 $30.13 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $41.71.
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 $11.24 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $19.03, while dry cleaning costs about $14.50.
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 $58,908.