City comparison
Las Vegas, NV vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Las Vegas, NV are 3.9% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $103,900 in Las Vegas, NV to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,478 a month in Las Vegas, NV 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 Las Vegas, NV.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.1% moving from Las Vegas, NV to Wilmington, NC ($108,719 → $106,437), while prices change by −3.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.8% in real buying power.
- Las Vegas, NV: price level 100.2 (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
| Las Vegas, NV | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.2 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,215 in Wilmington | $103,934 in Las Vegas |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,478/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (NV) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,670 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Las Vegas | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 115.5 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 90.6 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 100.2 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Las Vegas, NV → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
81 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Las Vegas, NV
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.8%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
57 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Las Vegas, NV is in the Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Las Vegas, NV to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Las Vegas, NV | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Las Vegas → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,046 | $61,722 | +1.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,280 | $74,678 | +1.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,427 | $89,508 | +1.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,719 | $106,437 | +1.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,473 | $125,776 | +1.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Las Vegas, NV | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Las Vegas dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $65,040 | $48,240 | $50,138 (−22.9%) |
| Software Developers | $129,940 | $123,730 | $128,597 (−1.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,530 | $77,920 | $80,985 (+0.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $103,940 | $80,970 | $84,155 (−19.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.