City comparison
Asheville, NC vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Asheville, NC (96.5) and Wilmington, NC (96.4, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Asheville, NC goes as far as $99,900 in Wilmington, NC.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,513 a month in Wilmington, NC versus $1,429 in Asheville, NC. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Wilmington, NC and 23% in Asheville, NC.
- Both are in NC, so estimated state income tax is the same: $3,481 a year on $100,000.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Asheville, NC to Wilmington, NC changes real buying power by +0.1%, purely from prices.
- Asheville, NC: price level 96.5 (cheaper)
- Wilmington, NC: price level 96.4 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Asheville, NC | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.5 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,913 in Wilmington | $100,087 in Asheville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,429/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,870 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Asheville, NC MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Asheville, NC and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Asheville | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.4 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 88.6 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 96.5 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Asheville, NC → Wilmington, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
69 Fair offer
Wilmington, NC → Asheville, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Asheville, NC to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Asheville, NC | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Asheville → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Asheville, NC | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Asheville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,080 | $48,240 | $48,282 (−3.6%) |
| Software Developers | $134,350 | $123,730 | $123,838 (−7.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,400 | $77,920 | $77,988 (−3.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,590 | $80,970 | $81,041 (−0.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.