City comparison
Tampa, FL vs Wilmington, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Tampa, FL are 4.6% higher than in Wilmington, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Wilmington, NC would need about $104,600 in Tampa, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,696 a month in Tampa, FL versus $1,513 in Wilmington, NC. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Tampa, FL and 24% in Wilmington, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Wilmington, NC than in Tampa, 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 Tampa, FL to Wilmington, NC changes real buying power by +4.6%, purely from prices.
- Tampa, FL: 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
| Tampa, FL | Wilmington, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.9 | 96.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,571 in Wilmington | $104,634 in Tampa |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,696/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 | 26% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,940 | $45,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA and Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL and Wilmington, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Tampa | Wilmington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 125.8 | 93.2 |
| Goods | 95.5 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 88.5 | 87.9 |
| Other services | 97.6 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 100.9 | 96.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Tampa, FL → Wilmington, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.6%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
83 Strong offer
Wilmington, NC → Tampa, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.4%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
54 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 Tampa, FL to Wilmington, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Tampa, FL | Wilmington, NC | Real change, Tampa → 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 | Tampa, FL | Wilmington, NC | Wilmington pay in Tampa dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,120 | $48,240 | $50,475 (−16.0%) |
| Software Developers | $130,450 | $123,730 | $129,463 (−0.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,990 | $77,920 | $81,531 (+3.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $85,470 | $80,970 | $84,722 (−0.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.