City comparison
Grand Rapids, MI vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Grand Rapids, MI (95.5) and Wilmington, NC (96.4, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Grand Rapids, MI goes as far as $100,900 in Wilmington, NC.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,513 a month in Wilmington, NC versus $1,278 in Grand Rapids, MI. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Wilmington, NC and 20% in Grand Rapids, MI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $518 a year higher in Grand Rapids, MI than in Wilmington, NC.
- 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 Grand Rapids, MI to Wilmington, NC changes real buying power by −0.9%, purely from prices.
- Grand Rapids, MI: price level 95.5 (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
| Grand Rapids, MI | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,917 in Wilmington | $99,091 in Grand Rapids |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,278/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,181 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,999 (MI) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,570 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI HUD Metro FMR Area and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Grand Rapids | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.6 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 93.8 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Grand Rapids, MI → Wilmington, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$518/yr.
66 Fair offer
Wilmington, NC → Grand Rapids, MI
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$518/yr.
72 Strong 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 Grand Rapids, MI to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Grand Rapids, MI | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Grand Rapids → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −0.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −0.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −0.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −0.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −0.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Grand Rapids, MI | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Grand Rapids dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,900 | $48,240 | $47,802 (−22.8%) |
| Software Developers | $107,520 | $123,730 | $122,606 (+14.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,270 | $77,920 | $77,212 (+1.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,920 | $80,970 | $80,234 (−4.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.