City comparison
Salem, OR vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Salem, OR are 7.5% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $107,500 in Salem, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,513 a month in Wilmington, NC versus $1,201 in Salem, OR. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Wilmington, NC and 20% in Salem, OR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,439 a year higher in Salem, OR than in Wilmington, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −7.2% moving from Salem, OR to Wilmington, NC ($114,684 → $106,437), while prices change by −7.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.2% in real buying power.
- Salem, OR: price level 103.6 (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
| Salem, OR | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,027 in Wilmington | $107,495 in Salem |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,201/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $55,310 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Salem, OR MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Salem, OR and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Salem | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 110.3 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 104.7 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Salem, OR → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$4,439/yr.
92 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Salem, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.0%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$4,439/yr.
47 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Salem, OR is in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Salem, OR to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Salem, OR | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Salem → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $66,505 | $61,722 | −0.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $80,465 | $74,678 | −0.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $96,443 | $89,508 | −0.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $114,684 | $106,437 | −0.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $135,522 | $125,776 | −0.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Salem, OR | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Salem dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $74,810 | $48,240 | $51,856 (−30.7%) |
| Software Developers | $131,620 | $123,730 | $133,004 (+1.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $87,480 | $77,920 | $83,760 (−4.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $131,750 | $80,970 | $87,039 (−33.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.