City comparison
Reno, NV vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Reno, NV are 4.8% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $104,800 in Reno, NV to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,489 a month in Reno, NV 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 Reno, NV.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.4% moving from Reno, NV to Wilmington, NC ($106,855 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.4% in real buying power.
- Reno, NV: price level 101.0 (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
| Reno, NV | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,454 in Wilmington | $104,762 in Reno |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,489/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (NV) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,660 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Reno-Fernley, NV | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Reno, NV HUD Metro FMR Area and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Reno, NV and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Reno | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 123.5 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 89.3 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 98.7 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Reno, NV → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
84 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Reno, NV
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.5%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
55 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Reno, NV is in the Reno-Fernley, NV pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Reno, NV to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Reno, NV | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Reno → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,965 | $61,722 | +4.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,972 | $74,678 | +4.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,859 | $89,508 | +4.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,855 | $106,437 | +4.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,271 | $125,776 | +4.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Reno, NV | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Reno dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,430 | $48,240 | $50,537 (−19.0%) |
| Software Developers | $125,710 | $123,730 | $129,623 (+3.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,370 | $77,920 | $81,631 (−0.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $107,520 | $80,970 | $84,826 (−21.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.