Cost of living index
Wilmington, NC
96.4 / 100
Living in Wilmington, NC is 3.6% cheaper than the US average.
Overall prices
96.4
Housing / rent
93.2
vs US average
−3.6%
What it costs to live in Wilmington, NC
Wilmington, NC has an overall price level of 96.4 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 3.6% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 93.2 it is 6.8% below the national average. Because rent and mortgage payments are the biggest line in most household budgets, that housing figure is usually what you’ll feel most when you move here.
Common questions
Is Wilmington, NC an expensive place to live?
Wilmington, NC has an overall cost-of-living index of 96.4, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 3.6% cheaper than the country as a whole.
Is housing expensive in Wilmington, NC?
Housing in Wilmington, NC scores 93.2 against a US average of 100 — roughly 6.8% below average. Housing is usually the largest single cost, so it drives most of the overall difference.
How does Wilmington, NC compare to the US average cost of living?
Overall prices in Wilmington, NC sit at 96.4 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 93.2. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.