City comparison
Indianapolis, IN vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Indianapolis, IN (95.7) and Wilmington, NC (96.4, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Indianapolis, IN goes as far as $100,800 in Wilmington, NC.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,513 a month in Wilmington, NC versus $1,267 in Indianapolis, IN. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Wilmington, NC and 20% in Indianapolis, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $561 a year higher in Wilmington, NC than in Indianapolis, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.9% moving from Indianapolis, IN to Wilmington, NC ($107,428 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.7% in real buying power.
- Indianapolis, IN: price level 95.7 (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
| Indianapolis, IN | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,759 in Wilmington | $99,247 in Indianapolis |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,267/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,340 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Indianapolis | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 88.9 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 86.4 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Indianapolis, IN → Wilmington, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$561/yr.
66 Fair offer
Wilmington, NC → Indianapolis, IN
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$561/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Indianapolis, IN is in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Indianapolis, IN to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Indianapolis, IN | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Indianapolis → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,297 | $61,722 | −1.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,374 | $74,678 | −1.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,341 | $89,508 | −1.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,428 | $106,437 | −1.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,947 | $125,776 | −1.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Indianapolis, IN | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Indianapolis dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,510 | $48,240 | $47,877 (−20.9%) |
| Software Developers | $106,870 | $123,730 | $122,798 (+14.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $77,920 | $77,333 (−2.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,230 | $80,970 | $80,360 (−4.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.