City comparison
Austin, TX vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Austin, TX are 1.7% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $101,700 in Austin, TX to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,562 a month in Austin, TX and $1,513 in Wilmington, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Wilmington, NC than in Austin, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.7% moving from Austin, TX to Wilmington, NC ($109,428 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.1% in real buying power.
- Austin, TX: price level 98.1 (about average)
- 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
| Austin, TX | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.1 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,324 in Wilmington | $101,705 in Austin |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,562/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,950 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Austin | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 120.4 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 98.1 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Austin, TX → Wilmington, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +1.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
74 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Austin, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −1.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
64 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Austin, TX is in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Austin, TX to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Austin, TX | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Austin → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,457 | $61,722 | −1.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,777 | $74,678 | −1.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,023 | $89,508 | −1.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,428 | $106,437 | −1.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,311 | $125,776 | −1.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Austin, TX | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Austin dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,270 | $48,240 | $49,062 (−19.9%) |
| Software Developers | $134,120 | $123,730 | $125,840 (−6.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,120 | $77,920 | $79,249 (−4.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,890 | $80,970 | $82,351 (−15.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.