City comparison
Salt Lake City, UT vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Salt Lake City, UT are 4.6% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $104,600 in Salt Lake City, UT to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,456 a month in Salt Lake City, UT and $1,513 in Wilmington, NC.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,534 a year in UT and $3,481 in NC.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Salt Lake City, UT to Wilmington, NC changes real buying power by +4.6%, purely from prices.
- Salt Lake City, UT: price level 100.9 (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
| Salt Lake City, UT | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.9 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,592 in Wilmington | $104,611 in Salt Lake City |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,456/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,646 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,534 (UT) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $55,240 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Salt Lake City, UT HUD Metro FMR Area and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Salt Lake City-Murray, UT and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Salt Lake City | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 123.3 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 79.0 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 99.0 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 100.9 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Salt Lake City, UT → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.6%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$53/yr.
83 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Salt Lake City, UT
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.4%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$53/yr.
55 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Salt Lake City, UT to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Salt Lake City, UT | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Salt Lake City → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +4.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +4.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +4.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +4.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +4.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Salt Lake City, UT | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Salt Lake City dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $77,920 | $48,240 | $50,464 (−35.2%) |
| Software Developers | $129,600 | $123,730 | $129,435 (−0.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,100 | $77,920 | $81,513 (−0.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $85,890 | $80,970 | $84,704 (−1.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.