City comparison
San Diego, CA vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in San Diego, CA are 16.0% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $116,000 in San Diego, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,459 a month in San Diego, CA versus $1,513 in Wilmington, NC. On $100,000, that's 40% of take-home pay in San Diego, CA and 24% in Wilmington, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,589 a year higher in San Diego, CA than in Wilmington, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.5% moving from San Diego, CA to Wilmington, NC ($121,585 → $106,437), while prices change by −13.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.6% in real buying power.
- San Diego, CA: price level 111.9 (much 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
| San Diego, CA | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 111.9 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $86,178 in Wilmington | $116,039 in San Diego |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,459/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 40% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,690 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | San Diego | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 179.3 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 108.0 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 174.2 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 111.9 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
San Diego, CA → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +16.0%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$1,589/yr.
100 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → San Diego, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −13.8%; rent takes 40% of take-home; state tax +$1,589/yr.
15 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
San Diego, CA is in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA pay area; Wilmington, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from San Diego, CA to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | San Diego, CA | Wilmington, NC | Real change, San Diego → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,507 | $61,722 | +1.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,307 | $74,678 | +1.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,246 | $89,508 | +1.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,585 | $106,437 | +1.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,677 | $125,776 | +1.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | San Diego, CA | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in San Diego dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $97,000 | $48,240 | $55,977 (−42.3%) |
| Software Developers | $163,270 | $123,730 | $143,575 (−12.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $96,340 | $77,920 | $90,417 (−6.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $139,520 | $80,970 | $93,957 (−32.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.