Moving from Raleigh to Wilmington
Your paycheck buys slightly more in Wilmington than in Raleigh (+1.9%). Compare taxes, rent, home prices and the cost of the move.
Equal salary in Wilmington: $97,900
Compare any two of 149 U.S. metro areas. All cities
To keep the same lifestyle, you need about $97,900 in Wilmington, NC to match $100,000 in Raleigh, NC ($2,100 less), after 2026 taxes and local prices.
Single filer, W-2 salary. Both are in North Carolina, so state income tax is the same; neither city levies a resident income tax.
Raleigh vs Wilmington: key facts
- Median rent
- $1,674 → $1,578/mo
- Median home value
- $465,800 → $397,300
- Median household income
- $102,144 → $78,890
- Price level (U.S. = 100)
- 98.2 → 96.4
- Natural hazard risk (FEMA)
- Among the highest (91.9 → 94.7 of 100)
Raleigh vs Wilmington cost of living
The vertical line marks the U.S. average (100).
| Measure | Raleigh, NC | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 98.2 | 96.4 |
| Median rent | $1,674 | $1,578 |
| Income to rent affordably (30%) | $66,960 | $63,120 |
| Median home value | $465,800 | $397,300 |
| Monthly cost to own (20% down) | $2,836 | $2,392 |
| Income needed to buy | $121,554 | $102,526 |
| Median property tax | $3,082 | $2,107 |
| State income tax on $100,000 | $3,481 | $3,481 |
| Metro population | 1,562,009 | 480,522 |
Metro-area figures (Census ACS 2024, BEA 2024). Taxes use each metro's principal state.
Your yearly budget: Raleigh vs Wilmington
On a $100,000 salary, taxes, housing, electricity, one car and health insurance for one adult come to $56,667 a year in Raleigh and $55,515 in Wilmington if you rent: $1,152 less after the move. If you buy the median home, they come to $70,614 and $65,286 ($5,328 less).
Your yearly budget, before vs after
| Yearly cost | RaleighBefore | WilmingtonAfter | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes on $100,000, single filer | $24,301 | $24,301 | $0 |
| Electricity state average bill | $1,722 | $1,722 | $0 |
| Car insurance one car, state average | $925 | $925 | $0 |
| Gas 12,000 miles at 25 mpg | $1,975 | $1,975 | $0 |
| Health insurance one adult, age 40, own plan before subsidies | $7,656 | $7,656 | $0 |
| If you rent | |||
| Rent median, 12 months | $20,088 | $18,936 | -$1,152 |
| Total if you rent | $56,667 | $55,515 | -$1,152 |
| If you buy the median home (20% down) | |||
| Mortgage payment median home, 20% down, 6.95% | $29,600 | $25,247 | -$4,353 |
| Property tax median home | $3,082 | $2,107 | -$975 |
| Homeowners insurance state median, with a mortgage | $1,353 | $1,353 | $0 |
| Total if you buy | $70,614 | $65,286 | -$5,328 |
Taxes: 2026 federal and state rules, plus the principal city's resident income tax where it has one, standard deduction. Rent, home value and property tax: Census ACS 2024 metro-area medians. Mortgage: Freddie Mac 30-year average (6.95%, week of September 17, 2026).
State figures for the principal state: EIA 2024 average residential power bill, NAIC 2023 auto insurance (average per car), Census ACS 2024 homeowners insurance (median for owners with a mortgage; premiums have risen since), AAA regular gas on September 23, 2026, and the KFF 2026 benchmark silver Marketplace premium. Job-based health coverage usually costs you less, and in 2026 incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level can get a premium tax credit.
Not included: sales tax (combined state and local rates are not in our data yet), food, car payments and other spending.
Child care is not in the totals. Full-time center care for one infant averages $12,370 a year in Raleigh and $12,370 in Wilmington (Child Care Aware of America, 2024 state averages).
Who moves from Raleigh to Wilmington
About 1,321 households (2,123 people) moved from the Raleigh metro area to the Wilmington metro area in 2022–2023, making Wilmington the #3 destination for people leaving Raleigh among the 149 metro areas we cover. 871 households moved the other way. Their average adjusted gross income was $122,394.
Cost to move from Raleigh to Wilmington
| Moving method (2–3 bedrooms) | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Rental truck (DIY) | $310–$600 |
| Moving container | $1,090–$2,030 |
| Full-service movers | $1,830–$4,860 |
At about 140 miles, this move is shorter than the long-distance routes these ranges are modeled on. A move this short is often priced by the hour, so quotes can come in lower.
Natural hazard risk: Raleigh vs Wilmington
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the Raleigh area among the highest (score 91.9) and the Wilmington area among the highest (score 94.7), on a 0–100 national percentile scale. Expected yearly losses from natural hazards average $267 vs $1,132 per resident.
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
Frequently asked questions
Is Wilmington cheaper than Raleigh?
Overall prices in the Wilmington area are 1.8% lower than in Raleigh (BEA Regional Price Parities 2024). Median rent is $1,578 vs $1,674 a month, and the median home is $397,300 vs $465,800.
What salary do I need in Wilmington to match $100,000 in Raleigh?
About $97,900, after 2026 federal taxes and local prices. Both are in North Carolina, so state income tax is the same.
How much does it cost to move from Raleigh to Wilmington?
For a 2–3 bedroom home over about 140 miles: roughly $310–$600 with a rental truck, $1,090–$2,030 with a container, or $1,830–$4,860 with full-service movers. A move this short is often priced by the hour, so quotes can come in lower.
How many people move from Raleigh to Wilmington?
IRS county migration data for 2022–2023 show about 1,321 households (2,123 people) moved from the Raleigh metro area to the Wilmington metro area, and 871 moved the other way.
Related
Where people from Raleigh move
- Raleigh to Durham 5,036 households
- Raleigh to Charlotte 1,853 households
- Raleigh to New York 1,029 households
- Washington, D.C. 842 households
- Greensboro 804 households
- Fayetteville, NC 588 households
- Atlanta 542 households
- Miami 393 households