City comparison
Montgomery, AL vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Wilmington, NC are 7.5% higher than in Montgomery, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Montgomery, AL would need about $107,500 in Wilmington, NC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,513 a month in Wilmington, NC versus $870 in Montgomery, AL. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Wilmington, NC and 14% in Montgomery, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,254 a year higher in Montgomery, AL 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 Montgomery, AL to Wilmington, NC changes real buying power by −7.0%, purely from prices.
- Montgomery, AL: price level 89.7 (much 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
| Montgomery, AL | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.7 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $107,515 in Wilmington | $93,010 in Montgomery |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $870/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,445 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,735 (AL) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $44,950 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Montgomery, AL MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Montgomery, AL and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Montgomery | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 64.3 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 84.9 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 89.7 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Montgomery, AL → Wilmington, NC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.0%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$1,254/yr.
47 Fair offer
Wilmington, NC → Montgomery, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.5%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$1,254/yr.
92 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 Montgomery, AL to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Montgomery, AL | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Montgomery → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −7.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −7.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −7.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −7.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −7.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Montgomery, AL | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Montgomery dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,610 | $48,240 | $44,868 (−24.7%) |
| Software Developers | $110,620 | $123,730 | $115,081 (+4.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,040 | $77,920 | $72,473 (−3.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,570 | $80,970 | $75,310 (−5.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.