City comparison
Merced, CA vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Merced, CA are 1.9% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $101,900 in Merced, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,513 a month in Wilmington, NC versus $1,213 in Merced, CA. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Wilmington, NC and 20% in Merced, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,589 a year higher in Merced, CA than in Wilmington, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −20.0% moving from Merced, CA to Wilmington, NC ($133,060 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −18.5% in real buying power.
- Merced, CA: price level 98.3 (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
| Merced, CA | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.3 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,114 in Wilmington | $101,922 in Merced |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,213/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,220 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Merced, CA MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Merced, CA and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Merced | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 78.6 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 158.3 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 98.3 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Merced, CA → Wilmington, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +1.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$1,589/yr.
75 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Merced, CA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.9%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$1,589/yr.
63 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Merced, CA is in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Merced, CA to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Merced, CA | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Merced → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $77,161 | $61,722 | −18.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $93,358 | $74,678 | −18.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $111,896 | $89,508 | −18.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $133,060 | $106,437 | −18.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $157,236 | $125,776 | −18.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Merced, CA | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Merced dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $100,120 | $48,240 | $49,167 (−50.9%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $123,730 | $126,108 (−4.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,420 | $77,920 | $79,417 (−1.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $131,620 | $80,970 | $82,526 (−37.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.