Wilmington, North Carolina is one of the most moved-to cities in the United States. Alongside the city’s many perks, people moving to Wilmington are often seeking a lower cost of living. But how does this cost of living translate to your budget specifically? We’ll go over a variety of expenses, including housing, transportation, and food, in Wilmington. We’ll also compare the cost of living in Wilmington to a few cities that people commonly move from. By the end, you’ll have a good idea of how expensive Wilmington, NC is, and know whether making the move is worth it for you!
Table of Contents
Overview: Cost of Living in Wilmington, NC
Wilmington, NC ranks just below the national average for cost of living. Specifically, the cost of living in Wilmington, NC is 5% below this average.
Compared to other cities in North Carolina, though, Wilmington has a slightly higher cost of living, being 4% above average. To give you a more concrete idea of these percentages, the average salary in Wilmington is around $61,000 per year. The median household income is around $51,000 and the median home price is roughly $264,000.
If you’re thinking of moving to Wilmington, NC, keep in mind that the cost of living is going up. The median home price increased by almost 5% from 2023 to 2024. Still, Wilmington, NC is not an expensive place to live.
Budget Categories
Here, we’ll go into more detail, breaking down different expenses you might experience in Wilmington, NC.
Housing
If you’re moving to Wilmington, NC with a family, know that a typical home costs around $372,000. This is over 10% more expensive than the national average. It’s almost 29% more expensive than the average for North Carolina.
If you’re moving to Wilmington as a renter, living in a two-bedroom apartment will cost about $1,300 per month in rent—a price about 12% cheaper than both the North Carolina and national average per month. Using the common rule of thumb that roughly one-third of your income should go to housing expenses, you should expect to make at least $46,000 to comfortably afford this typical two-bedroom apartment in Wilmington, NC.
Transportation
Transportation expenses in Wilmington, such as bus fares and gas prices, are about 9% higher than the national average. Compared to the state average, they’re 15% higher.
To ride buses in Wilmington, NC, you can expect to spend $80 for a 31-day pass. As of July 2024, gas costs roughly $3.42 per gallon in Wilmington, NC.
Food
The cost of food in Wilmington is about 1% lower than both the state and national averages.
To give you a more concrete idea of what these numbers mean, the average price of a gallon of milk in Wilmington, NC is about $3.62. A dozen eggs cost about $3, and bananas sell for about $0.49 per pound. Prepare to spend around $15 for a meal at an inexpensive restaurant in Wilmington.
Utilities
The cost of utilities per month in Wilmington, NC is about 4% higher than the national average and 4% higher than the average for North Carolina.
For a small apartment in Wilmington, monthly utility bills—including electricity, heat and cooling, water, and garbage—cost around $170. A phone plan is in the range of $50, and internet might cost around $70 per month.
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Healthcare
Healthcare costs in Wilmington are about 7% higher than the national average and 1% higher than the state average. You can expect to pay around $140 in Wilmington for a doctor’s appointment.
Cost of Living in Different Regions in Wilmington, NC
Obviously, some parts of any city are going to be more or less expensive than others. For instance, if you’re living in the Wilmington, NC city center, a one-bedroom apartment might cost around $1,400 per month. Conversely, if you move outside the city center, you can expect to spend closer to $1,150 per month on rent.
In Wilmington, many of the areas with a higher cost of living are along the coast. Some of the most expensive neighborhoods are the Edgewater and Bradley Hills area, the Landfall and Wrightsville West area, and Pointe Summerset. For example, the median real estate price in Edgewater and Bradley Hills is higher than over 99% of neighborhoods in the state.
In contrast, some suburbs in Wilmington have a much lower cost of living, including Skippers Corner, Wrightsboro, and Silver Lake. Skippers Corner has a cost of living score that’s 7.8% lower than the average for North Carolina.
The differences between these neighborhoods in Wilmington, North Carolina will definitely shape your experience of the average cost of living per month! Think carefully when choosing the best neighborhood for you.
Moving From Other Cities to Wilmington, NC
Here, we’ll compare the cost of living in Wilmington to the cost of living in some other cities that people frequently move from. Some of the most popular cities people moving to Wilmington come from include Washington, DC; Raleigh, NC; and New York, NY.
Washington, DC versus Wilmington, NC
If you’re moving out of state from Washington, DC to Wilmington, you’ll find Wilmington much more affordable. The cost of living in Wilmington, NC is 54% lower than the cost of living in Washington, DC. Housing costs make up the majority of this differential; homes cost about 68% less in Wilmington than in DC.
Raleigh, NC versus Wilmington, NC
The cost of living in Wilmington, NC is very similar to the cost of living in Raleigh, NC, but is about 3% lower. Compared to Raleigh, you can expect to spend more on transportation and utilities in Wilmington, but much less on housing.
New York, NY versus Wilmington, NC
If you’re moving across the country from New York to Wilmington, prepare to save money. Compared to living in Manhattan, New York, NY, the cost of living in Wilmington, NC is 138% lower. The majority of this difference comes from the cost of housing, which is a whopping 85% lower in Wilmington than in New York. Thus, Wilmington, North Carolina is much less expensive than New York City.
Wilmington, NC Moving Company
If the relatively low cost of living in Wilmington, NC has convinced you to make the move, you might be interested in moving companies in Wilmington, NC. Hiring movers can give you peace of mind and speed up the moving process greatly as you experience one of the best cities in North Carolina.
UniMovers is a great choice for a moving company in Wilmington, NC. UniMovers offers budget-friendly, labor-only services that save you money with no hidden or extra fees for things like stairs, large furniture, or distance to the door. Also, hiring UniMovers is a great way to support local college students!
Conclusion
People are flocking to Wilmington, NC for a variety of reasons, including the low cost of living. Indeed, the cost of living in Wilmington, NC hovers at about 5% below the national average, and is about 4% higher than the cost of living for the state as a whole.
Now you have a better sense of the cost of living in Wilmington according to different budget categories, including housing, food, transportation, utilities, and health care. You also know a bit about the more and less expensive parts of Wilmington, NC. Lastly, you know how the cost of living in Wilmington compares to some other cities that people commonly move from, including Washington, DC; Raleigh, NC; and New York, NY.
FAQs
Wilmington, NC is an affordable city, with a cost of living 5% below the national average and 4% above the average for cities in North Carolina.
The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Wilmington, NC is about $1,300 per month, although this cost varies depending on your location within the city.
A typical home in Wilmington, NC costs around $372,000.
Sophie Pollack-Milgate has a day job as a bioethics research assistant. In her free time, she likes to read books critiquing psychiatry, complain about how either ice or heat are ruining her runs (depending on the season), and modify recipes beyond recognition.
