City comparison
Palm Bay, FL vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Palm Bay, FL are 3.7% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $103,700 in Palm Bay, FL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,478 a month in Palm Bay, FL 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 Palm Bay, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.7% moving from Palm Bay, FL to Wilmington, NC ($107,228 → $106,437), while prices change by −3.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.0% in real buying power.
- Palm Bay, FL: price level 100.0 (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
| Palm Bay, FL | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,417 in Wilmington | $103,716 in Palm Bay |
| 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 (FL) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,030 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Palm Bay | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 111.7 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 88.1 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Palm Bay, FL → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
80 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Palm Bay, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.6%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
58 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Palm Bay, FL is in the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Palm Bay, FL to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Palm Bay, FL | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Palm Bay → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,181 | $61,722 | +3.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,233 | $74,678 | +3.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,173 | $89,508 | +3.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,228 | $106,437 | +3.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,711 | $125,776 | +3.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Palm Bay, FL | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Palm Bay dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,510 | $48,240 | $50,033 (−20.0%) |
| Software Developers | $131,760 | $123,730 | $128,328 (−2.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,860 | $77,920 | $80,815 (+6.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,900 | $80,970 | $83,979 (+3.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.