CostIndexUSA

Jacksonville, FL vs Wilmington, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Jacksonville
99.5
overall index
$1,650/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Wilmington
96.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Wilmington is slightly cheaper than Jacksonville — 3.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Jacksonville, you would need $77,500 in Wilmington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing15.1%
Jacksonville
109.8
Wilmington
93.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Jacksonville
96.2
Wilmington
96.6
🚗 Transportation0.7%
Jacksonville
103.8
Wilmington
103.1
🏥 Healthcare0.6%
Jacksonville
93.9
Wilmington
93.3
Utilities≈ Equal
Jacksonville
87.5
Wilmington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wilmington, NC
$77,500
$2,500 less needed in Wilmington

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 99.5) = salary × 0.9688. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Jacksonville, FL

Median Home Price
$344,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
Housing Index
109.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Wilmington, NC

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

Jacksonville has 15.1% lower housing costs compared to Wilmington.

Income & Job Market

Jacksonville, FL

Median Household Income
$77,000
Per Capita Income
$43,900
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
949,611
Top Industries
MilitaryLogisticsHealthcareFinanceManufacturing

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).

Jacksonville, FL
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.