City comparison
Phoenix, AZ vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 7.1% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $107,100 in Phoenix, AZ to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,583 a month in Phoenix, AZ and $1,513 in Wilmington, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,190 a year higher in Wilmington, NC than in Phoenix, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.4% moving from Phoenix, AZ to Wilmington, NC ($111,338 → $106,437), while prices change by −6.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.4% in real buying power.
- Phoenix, AZ: price level 103.3 (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
| Phoenix, AZ | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.3 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,327 in Wilmington | $107,150 in Phoenix |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,583/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,889 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,291 (AZ) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 25% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,380 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Phoenix | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 121.2 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 95.0 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 93.3 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 104.0 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 103.3 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Phoenix, AZ → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$1,190/yr.
91 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Phoenix, AZ
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.7%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$1,190/yr.
48 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Phoenix, AZ is in the Phoenix-Mesa, AZ pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Phoenix, AZ to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Phoenix, AZ | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Phoenix → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,564 | $61,722 | +2.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,117 | $74,678 | +2.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,629 | $89,508 | +2.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,338 | $106,437 | +2.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,568 | $125,776 | +2.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Phoenix, AZ | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Phoenix dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,180 | $48,240 | $51,689 (−12.7%) |
| Software Developers | $131,750 | $123,730 | $132,576 (+0.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,820 | $77,920 | $83,491 (+3.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $100,830 | $80,970 | $86,759 (−14.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.