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Cost of living in Wilmington, NC

Compared with New York. Change city

$1,487a month less for the typical home than in New York1,2

That's $17,839 a year, enough to cover 6 months of the mortgage in Wilmington. The average commute is 12 minutes shorter each way, about 2.1 hours a week back4.

Typical home $471,489 vs $742,000. 2-bedroom rent3 $1,658 vs $1,997. See the math

By Sol Lakein.Checked October 2026.How we compare costs

Wilmington city view under a blue sky with a bridge in the background, WilmingtonJosh Austin / Unsplash
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  • Beach or lakeWrightsville Beach

Wilmington at a glance, next to New York

5

What the median home costs each month

1,2
New York metro$4,078/mo
$742,000 typical home
Wilmington$2,591/mo
$471,489 typical home

If you rent: median 2-bedroom

3
New York metro$1,997/mo
Wilmington$1,658/mo
About $339 a month less in rent
Rent by apartment size in Wilmington

Day-to-day costs

  • Housing costs67% cheaper than averageNew York: 49% above
  • Salary that matches $150,000 in New York6$128,491
  • Net move-ins from other US metros, 2024-257+12,719
Wilmington in a paragraph

The median listed home in Wilmington is $471,489 (Realtor.com, September 2026), 12% above the US median of $419,250. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest come to about $2,591 a month. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,658 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). Everyday prices index at 96.4, where the US average is 100 (BEA, 2024). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $128,491 here.

Weather

9
  • 36.3°January low
  • 90°July high
  • 0.9 inSnow per year

Home prices next to New York

1
Typical home for sale
New York metro$742,000
Wilmington$471,489
36% less, a $270,511 difference
Price per square foot
New York metro$494
Wilmington$250
2.0 times the space for the money

Your New York, in Wilmington

We're matching Wilmington's parks, museums, arenas and food halls to their New York counterparts. Until then, see how it works for Raleigh.

See how Wilmington ranks for your household

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See how Wilmington ranks for you

Is Wilmington a good place to live?

Wilmington fits families who want prices 4% below the US average and mild winters. The main trade-off is homes list 12% above the US median. Here is what you gain and what you give up.

What you gain

  • Prices 4% below the US averageEveryday prices, rent included, index at 96.4 against a US average of 100.BEA regional price parities, 2024
  • Mild wintersJanuary lows average 36.3°F with 0.9 inches of snow a year.NOAA 1991-2020 normals
  • Nonstop flights to New YorkFrom ILM to LGA, EWR.Airport route page, accessed October 14, 2026
  • People are moving in12,719 more people moved here from other US metros than left, July 2024 to July 2025.US Census Bureau, Vintage 2025
  • Beach or lake accessWrightsville BeachSlower Sundays city profile

What you trade

  • Homes list 12% above the US median$471,489 median listing against $419,250 nationally.Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026
  • Hot summersJuly highs average 90°F.NOAA 1991-2020 normals

More on Wilmington and North Carolina

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Wilmington cost of living: questions people ask

What is the cost of living in Wilmington, NC?

The median listed home in Wilmington is $471,489 (Realtor.com, September 2026), 12% above the US median of $419,250. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest come to about $2,591 a month. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,658 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). Everyday prices index at 96.4, where the US average is 100 (BEA, 2024). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $128,491 here.

How much would I save moving from New York to Wilmington?

The median listed home is $471,489 in Wilmington against $742,000 in the New York metro, 36% less. On a mortgage for each median home, that is about $1,487 a month less in principal and interest (20% down, 7.32%, Freddie Mac, October 22, 2026).

How much is rent in Wilmington?

The median gross rent for a 2-bedroom in the Wilmington metro is $1,658 a month, including utilities the renter pays (Census American Community Survey, 2025). In the New York metro it is $1,997, $339 more. The US median is $1,563.

What salary in Wilmington matches $150,000 in New York?

$128,491. That is $150,000 adjusted by the BEA regional price parities for both metros (96.4 in Wilmington, 112.6 in New York, 2024).

Does Wilmington pay you to move there?

None of the relocation incentive programs we track cover Wilmington as of October 2026.

What is the weather like in Wilmington?

January lows average 36.3°F and July highs 90°F, with 0.9 inches of snow a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Wilmington International Airport).

Notes on the numbers
  1. 1Home prices: the typical home is the median listing price, with price per square foot, from Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. The comparison metro uses the same series and month.
  2. 2Monthly cost: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Rate source
  3. 3Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units (rent plus utilities). Covers all renters, including long-time tenants, not only new leases. Census table
  4. 4Commute: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table S0801, mean travel time to work (one way, workers who do not work from home), 2025. Hours back assume a 5-day round trip. Census table
  5. 5At a glance: a difference within 5% counts as about the same.
  6. 6Everyday prices, housing costs and the matching salary: BEA regional price parities, 2024, US = 100.
  7. 7Net move-ins: Census Vintage 2025, via Regions Financial.
  8. 8Flights: airport route pages, October 2026.
  9. 9Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Wilmington International Airport.
Sources for this page