City comparison
Richmond, VA vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Richmond, VA are 1.5% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $101,500 in Richmond, VA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,507 a month in Richmond, VA and $1,513 in Wilmington, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,455 a year higher in Richmond, VA than in Wilmington, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.3% moving from Richmond, VA to Wilmington, NC ($111,183 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.8% in real buying power.
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
- 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
| Richmond, VA | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.9 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,533 in Wilmington | $101,489 in Richmond |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,507/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,244 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,936 (VA) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,460 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Richmond, VA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Richmond, VA and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Richmond | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 99.1 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 97.9 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Richmond, VA → Wilmington, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +1.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$1,455/yr.
73 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Richmond, VA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$1,455/yr.
64 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Richmond, VA is in the Richmond, VA pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Richmond, VA to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Richmond, VA | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Richmond → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,475 | $61,722 | −2.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,009 | $74,678 | −2.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,499 | $89,508 | −2.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,183 | $106,437 | −2.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,385 | $125,776 | −2.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Richmond, VA | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Richmond dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,290 | $48,240 | $48,958 (−20.1%) |
| Software Developers | $132,120 | $123,730 | $125,573 (−5.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,220 | $77,920 | $79,080 (−6.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,580 | $80,970 | $82,176 (−12.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.