City comparison
Crestview, FL vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Crestview, FL (97.0) and Wilmington, NC (96.4, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Crestview, FL goes as far as $99,400 in Wilmington, NC.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,581 a month in Crestview, FL 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 Crestview, FL.
- 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 Crestview, FL to Wilmington, NC changes real buying power by +0.6%, purely from prices.
- Crestview, FL: price level 97.0 (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
| Crestview, FL | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.0 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,372 in Wilmington | $100,632 in Crestview |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,581/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,510 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL HUD Metro FMR Area and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Crestview | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 94.9 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 97.0 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Crestview, FL → Wilmington, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.6%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
71 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Crestview, FL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.6%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
67 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 Crestview, FL to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Crestview, FL | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Crestview → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Crestview, FL | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Crestview dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,330 | $48,240 | $48,545 (−19.5%) |
| Software Developers | $130,640 | $123,730 | $124,511 (−4.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,510 | $77,920 | $78,412 (−1.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,260 | $80,970 | $81,481 (+0.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.