CostIndexUSA

Atlantic City, NJ vs Wilmington, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NJ
Atlantic City
98.9
overall index
$2,225/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Wilmington
96.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Wilmington is slightly cheaper than Atlantic City — 2.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Atlantic City, you would need $78,000 in Wilmington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing5.6%
Atlantic City
98.7
Wilmington
93.2
🛒 Groceries3.2%
Atlantic City
99.8
Wilmington
96.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Atlantic City
102.8
Wilmington
103.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Atlantic City
93
Wilmington
93.3
Utilities19.5%
Atlantic City
109.2
Wilmington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Atlantic City to see what you'd need to earn in Wilmington to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Wilmington, NC
$78,000
$2,000 less needed in Wilmington

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 98.9) = salary × 0.9747. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Atlantic City, NJ

Median Home Price
$369,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,225
Housing Index
98.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.8×

Wilmington, NC

Median Home Price
$432,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
93.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.2×

Atlantic City has 5.6% lower housing costs compared to Wilmington.

Income & Job Market

Atlantic City, NJ

Median Household Income
$80,100
Per Capita Income
$45,700
Unemployment Rate
6%
Population
38,497
Top Industries
GamingTourismHealthcareHospitalityRetail

Wilmington, NC

Median Household Income
$76,900
Per Capita Income
$43,800
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
115,451
Top Industries
HealthcareTourismTechnologyEducationMilitary

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Atlantic City, NJ
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Wilmington, NC
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.