City comparison
Wilmington, NC vs Winston, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Wilmington, NC are 4.8% higher than in Winston, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Winston, NC would need about $104,800 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 $1,082 in Winston, NC. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Wilmington, NC and 17% in Winston, NC.
- Both are in NC, so estimated state income tax is the same: $3,481 a year on $100,000.
- 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 Wilmington, NC to Winston, NC changes real buying power by +4.8%, purely from prices.
- Wilmington, NC: price level 96.4 (cheaper)
- Winston, NC: price level 92.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Wilmington, NC | Winston, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.4 | 92.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,459 in Winston | $104,758 in Wilmington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,513/mo | $1,082/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,800 | $46,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Wilmington, NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Winston-Salem, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Wilmington, NC and Winston-Salem, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Wilmington | Winston |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.2 | 71.4 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 87.9 | 88.4 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 96.4 | 92.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Wilmington, NC → Winston, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.8%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
84 Strong offer
Winston, NC → Wilmington, NC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/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 Wilmington, NC to Winston, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Wilmington, NC | Winston, NC | Real change, Wilmington → Winston |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +4.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +4.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +4.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +4.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +4.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Wilmington, NC | Winston, NC | Winston pay in Wilmington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $48,240 | $56,510 | $59,198 (+22.7%) |
| Software Developers | $123,730 | $124,130 | $130,036 (+5.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,920 | $78,950 | $82,706 (+6.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,970 | $86,120 | $90,217 (+11.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.