Cost of Living in Wilmington, NC: Rent, Housing & Income
Cost of living vs. U.S. average (2024)
3.6% below
Cost of living in Wilmington is 3.6% below the U.S. average, based on the Bureau of Economic Analysis 2024 Regional Price Parities for the Wilmington, NC metro area (index 96.4; U.S. = 100). Median rent in Wilmington is $1,541 a month.
Cost of living in Wilmington by category
Overall prices
96.4U.S. = 100
Regional price parity, all items
−3.6% vs. U.S.
- Goods
- 96.6 −3.4%
- Housing (rents)
- 93.2 −6.8%
- Utilities
- 87.9 −12.1%
- Other services
- 98.2 −1.8%
BEA 2024 · Wilmington metro area Details: Overall prices
Housing
$1,541/mo
Median gross rent
+4% vs. U.S.
- 1-bedroom rent
- $1,447 +11% vs. U.S.
- 2-bedroom rent
- $1,581 +6% vs. U.S.
- 3-bedroom rent
- $1,855 +11% vs. U.S.
- Median home value
- $428,900 +19% vs. U.S.
- Owner costs, mortgage
- $2,077 About the same as U.S.
Census ACS 2024 Details: Housing
Utilities
$152/mo
Average electric bill
About the same as U.S.
- Electricity price
- 15.2¢/kWh −17% vs. U.S.
- Natural gas, 12-mo avg.
- $25.19/Mcf +30% vs. U.S.
- Utilities price index
- 87.9
EIA July 2026 · North Carolina statewide Details: Utilities
Transportation
19.5min
Mean travel time to work
−28% vs. U.S.
- Gasoline (PADD 1C avg.)
- $4.07/gal −7% vs. U.S.
Census ACS 2024 · EIA September 2026 Details: Transportation
Food at home
$1,388/mo
Moderate-cost plan, family of 4
- Thrifty plan, family of 4
- $1,024/mo
- Liberal plan, family of 4
- $1,679/mo
- Moderate plan, single woman
- $403/mo
- Moderate plan, single man
- $478/mo
USDA August 2026 · U.S. average Details: Food at home
Child care
$223/wk
Center care, infant
+29% vs. U.S.
- Center care, toddler
- $173/wk +13% vs. U.S.
- Center care, preschool
- $134/wk −7% vs. U.S.
- Home-based care, infant
- $184/wk +28% vs. U.S.
DOL NDCP 2022 prices · New Hanover County Details: Child care
Income
$63,165/yr
Median household income
−23% vs. U.S.
- Median rent as share of income
- 29%
- Home value to income
- 6.8×
Census ACS 2024 Details: Income
Housing costs in Wilmington
Median gross rent in Wilmington is $1,541 a month, 4% above the U.S. median of $1,487.
The median owner-occupied home is valued at $428,900.
Housing costs: Wilmington vs. North Carolina vs. U.S.
Median monthly rent
Monthly owner costs
Median home value
Show the data table
| Measure | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median monthly rent | $1,541 | $1,338 | $1,487 |
| Monthly owner costs | $2,077 | $1,747 | $2,035 |
| Median home value | $428,900 | $333,000 | $360,600 |
Rent is median gross rent; owner costs are for homes with a mortgage. American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates. Source: American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau)
Monthly housing costs in Wilmington
| Measure | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent (all units) | $1,541 | $1,338 | $1,487 |
| 1-bedroom rent | $1,447 | $1,274 | $1,301 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,581 | $1,277 | $1,490 |
| 3-bedroom rent | $1,855 | $1,422 | $1,677 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $2,077 | $1,747 | $2,035 |
Median gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Owner costs include the mortgage, taxes, insurance, and utilities. American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates. Source: American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau)
How affordable is Wilmington?
At the median, rent takes about 29% of household income in Wilmington. Housing experts treat 30% as the limit before a household is considered cost-burdened. To keep the median rent at 30% of income, a household would need to earn about $61,600 a year.
The median home is worth $428,900, or 6.8 times the median household income.
Household income in Wilmington
The median household in Wilmington earns $63,165 a year, 23% below the U.S. median of $81,604. About 9.8% of households earn $200,000 or more, while 19.5% earn less than $25,000.
Median household income: Wilmington vs. North Carolina vs. U.S.
Median household income (yearly)
Show the data table
| Measure | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income (yearly) | $63,165 | $73,958 | $81,604 |
American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates. Source: American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau)
Household income distribution in Wilmington
Show the data table
| Range | Wilmington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $10,000 | 4.8% | 5.1% |
| $10,000–$14,999 | 4.3% | 3.3% |
| $15,000–$19,999 | 3.6% | 2.8% |
| $20,000–$24,999 | 6.8% | 3.2% |
| $25,000–$29,999 | 2.7% | 3% |
| $30,000–$34,999 | 3.9% | 3.3% |
| $35,000–$39,999 | 5.3% | 3.2% |
| $40,000–$44,999 | 5.2% | 3.5% |
| $45,000–$49,999 | 2.7% | 3.2% |
| $50,000–$59,999 | 7.4% | 6.4% |
| $60,000–$74,999 | 10.8% | 9.2% |
| $75,000–$99,999 | 11.4% | 12.6% |
| $100,000–$124,999 | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| $125,000–$149,999 | 6.5% | 7.4% |
| $150,000–$199,999 | 7% | 9.7% |
| $200,000 or more | 9.8% | 13.7% |
Share of households. Census ACS 2024 1-year estimates, table B19001. Source: American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau)
Income and home values
| Measure | Wilmington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income (yearly) | $63,165 | $73,958 | $81,604 |
| Median home value | $428,900 | $333,000 | $360,600 |
American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates. Source: American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau)
Price levels compared with the U.S.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis publishes Regional Price Parities: price levels for the same basket of goods and services, with the U.S. average set to 100. In 2024, the Wilmington, NC metro area scored 96.4 for all items. The highest category is other services at 98.2; the lowest is utilities at 87.9.
Regional price parities by category (U.S. = 100)
All items
Goods
Housing (rents)
Utilities
Other services
Show the data table
| Measure | Wilmington metro area | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 96.4 | 94.3 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 | 99.6 |
| Housing (rents) | 93.2 | 81.4 | 100.6 |
| Utilities | 87.9 | 88.6 | 98.4 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 | 100.1 |
Index, U.S. = 100. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities, 2024. Metro area: Wilmington, NC. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities
Utilities and energy costs
Households in North Carolina paid an average of 15.2¢ per kWh for electricity in July 2026, compared with 18.3¢ nationally. Over the past 12 months the average residential bill was $152 a month (U.S.: $157). Residential natural gas averaged $25.19 per thousand cubic feet over the 12 months to July 2026 (U.S.: $19.40).
Energy prices are reported statewide, so these are North Carolina averages rather than figures for Wilmington alone.
Energy prices: North Carolina vs. U.S.
Electricity price (¢/kWh)
Average electric bill (monthly)
Natural gas, 12-mo avg. ($/Mcf)
Show the data table
| Measure | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity price (¢/kWh) | 15.2¢ | 18.3¢ |
| Average electric bill (monthly) | $152 | $157 |
| Natural gas, 12-mo avg. ($/Mcf) | $25.19 | $19.40 |
Residential customers. Electricity price for July 2026; electric bill and natural gas are 12-month averages. U.S. Energy Information Administration. Sources: EIA Electric Power Monthly: residential retail sales; EIA Natural Gas Monthly: price delivered to residential consumers
Transportation and commuting
Workers in Wilmington who commute spend an average of 19.5 minutes getting to work (U.S.: 27.2 minutes). Gasoline in the Lower Atlantic region (PADD 1C), which includes North Carolina, averaged $4.07 a gallon for regular in September 2026, compared with $4.36 nationally. EIA publishes no separate North Carolina price.
Travel time to work in Wilmington
Show the data table
| Range | Wilmington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 5 min | 3.9% | 2.8% |
| 5–9 min | 15.9% | 9.4% |
| 10–14 min | 20.3% | 13.1% |
| 15–19 min | 22.5% | 15% |
| 20–24 min | 17.1% | 14.1% |
| 25–29 min | 6.2% | 7% |
| 30–34 min | 6.1% | 13.7% |
| 35–39 min | 0.2% | 3.4% |
| 40–44 min | 0.6% | 4.1% |
| 45–59 min | 1.4% | 8.3% |
| 60–89 min | 3.5% | 6.3% |
| 90 min or more | 2.2% | 3% |
Share of workers who do not work from home. Census ACS 2024 1-year estimates, table B08303. Source: American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau)
Child care costs in Wilmington
In 2022, full-time center-based care for an infant had a median price of $223 a week in New Hanover County, or $11,601 over 52 weeks. That is 29% above the U.S. county median of $174. Prices are for 2022 and are not adjusted for inflation.
Weekly child care prices (2022)
| Type of care | New Hanover County | North Carolina (county median) | U.S. (county median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center-based care, infant | $223 | $181 | $174 |
| Center-based care, toddler | $173 | $142 | $153 |
| Center-based care, preschool | $134 | $123 | $144 |
| Center-based care, school-age | $135 | $73 | $120 |
| Home-based family care, infant | $184 | $151 | $143 |
| Home-based family care, toddler | $157 | $135 | $132 |
| Home-based family care, preschool | $157 | $125 | $131 |
| Home-based family care, school-age | $194 | $86 | $118 |
Median weekly price for full-time care. State and U.S. figures are medians of county medians. Prices are for 2022 and are not adjusted for inflation. U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices. Source: National Database of Childcare Prices (U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau)
Food costs
USDA's moderate-cost food plan puts groceries for a family of four at $1,388 a month in August 2026; the thrifty plan comes to $1,024. USDA publishes these as national averages, not city figures, so they show a typical grocery budget rather than Wilmington prices.
Monthly cost of food at home (August 2026)
| USDA food plan | U.S. family of 4 | U.S. couple | U.S. single man | U.S. single woman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thrifty | $1,024 | $630 | $383 | $304 |
| Low-cost | $1,126 | $652 | $381 | $331 |
| Moderate-cost | $1,388 | $808 | $478 | $403 |
| Liberal | $1,679 | $1,007 | $583 | $515 |
Family of 4: two adults and two children aged 6–8 and 9–11. For a single man, the Thrifty plan costs more than the Low-cost plan: USDA re-evaluated the Thrifty plan in 2021, while the other plans still use older market baskets. USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Official Food Plans, August 2026. Source: USDA Food Plans: Cost of Food at Home (monthly reports)
What these figures cover
This page uses only federal statistics: the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Energy Information Administration, the Department of Labor and the Department of Agriculture. It does not include health care figures for Wilmington; we only publish numbers we can source.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Wilmington?
Median rent is $1,447 for a one-bedroom and $1,581 for a two-bedroom unit, including utilities the renter pays.
How much do you need to make to live in Wilmington?
To keep the median rent of $1,541 at no more than 30% of income, a household needs about $61,600 a year before taxes. This covers housing only.
Is Wilmington more expensive than the U.S. average?
No. The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts overall prices in the Wilmington, NC metro area at 96.4 for 2024 (U.S. = 100), 3.6% below average. Housing rents score 93.2.
How long is the average commute in Wilmington?
19.5 minutes one way for workers who commute, compared with 27.2 minutes nationally (Census ACS 2024).
How much does infant day care cost in Wilmington?
The median price for full-time center-based infant care was $223 a week in New Hanover County in 2022, according to the Department of Labor's National Database of Childcare Prices.