City comparison
Olympia, WA vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Olympia, WA are 7.5% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $107,500 in Olympia, WA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA versus $1,513 in Wilmington, NC. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Olympia, WA and 24% in Wilmington, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Wilmington, NC than in Olympia, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.0% moving from Olympia, WA to Wilmington, NC ($119,630 → $106,437), while prices change by −7.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.3% in real buying power.
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (pricier)
- 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
| Olympia, WA | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.7 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,009 in Wilmington | $107,517 in Olympia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,682/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (WA) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $61,960 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Seattle-Tacoma, WA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Olympia | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 116.7 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 105.0 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 91.7 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 99.5 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 103.7 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Olympia, WA → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
92 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Olympia, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.0%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
46 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Olympia, WA is in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Olympia, WA to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Olympia, WA | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Olympia → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,373 | $61,722 | −4.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,935 | $74,678 | −4.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,602 | $89,508 | −4.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $119,630 | $106,437 | −4.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,367 | $125,776 | −4.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Olympia, WA | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Olympia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $104,650 | $48,240 | $51,866 (−50.4%) |
| Software Developers | $124,060 | $123,730 | $133,031 (+7.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $94,470 | $77,920 | $83,777 (−11.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,020 | $80,970 | $87,056 (−30.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.