City comparison
Philadelphia, PA vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 6.4% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $106,400 in Philadelphia, PA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,520 a month in Philadelphia, PA and $1,513 in Wilmington, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $411 a year higher in Wilmington, NC than in Philadelphia, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −9.2% moving from Philadelphia, PA to Wilmington, NC ($117,284 → $106,437), while prices change by −6.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.5% in real buying power.
- Philadelphia, PA: price level 102.6 (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
| Philadelphia, PA | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.6 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,021 in Wilmington | $106,360 in Philadelphia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,520/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,310 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Philadelphia | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 113.1 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 114.4 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 103.1 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 102.6 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Philadelphia, PA → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.4%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$411/yr.
89 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Philadelphia, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.0%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$411/yr.
50 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Philadelphia, PA is in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Philadelphia, PA to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Philadelphia, PA | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Philadelphia → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,013 | $61,722 | −3.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $82,289 | $74,678 | −3.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $98,630 | $89,508 | −3.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $117,284 | $106,437 | −3.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $138,595 | $125,776 | −3.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Philadelphia, PA | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Philadelphia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,570 | $48,240 | $51,308 (−34.7%) |
| Software Developers | $133,040 | $123,730 | $131,599 (−1.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,990 | $77,920 | $82,875 (−3.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,180 | $80,970 | $86,119 (−14.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.