City comparison
Tallahassee, FL vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Wilmington, NC are 2.7% higher than in Tallahassee, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Tallahassee, FL would need about $102,700 in Wilmington, NC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,513 a month in Wilmington, NC versus $1,204 in Tallahassee, FL. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Wilmington, NC and 18% in Tallahassee, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Wilmington, NC than in Tallahassee, FL.
- 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 Tallahassee, FL to Wilmington, NC changes real buying power by −2.6%, purely from prices.
- Tallahassee, FL: price level 93.9 (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
| Tallahassee, FL | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.9 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,665 in Wilmington | $97,404 in Tallahassee |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,204/mo | $1,513/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,520 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Tallahassee, FL HUD Metro FMR Area and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Tallahassee, FL and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Tallahassee | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 78.5 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 87.5 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 93.9 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Tallahassee, FL → Wilmington, NC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.6%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
61 Fair offer
Wilmington, NC → Tallahassee, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
77 Strong 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 Tallahassee, FL to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Tallahassee, FL | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Tallahassee → Wilmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −2.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −2.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −2.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −2.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −2.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Tallahassee, FL | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Tallahassee dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $55,020 | $48,240 | $46,988 (−14.6%) |
| Software Developers | $121,800 | $123,730 | $120,518 (−1.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $61,840 | $77,920 | $75,897 (+22.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,430 | $80,970 | $78,868 (−0.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.