CostIndexUSA

Pensacola, FL vs Wilmington, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Pensacola
97.7
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableNC
Wilmington
96.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Wilmington is slightly cheaper than Pensacola — 1.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Pensacola, you would need $78,900 in Wilmington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing5.7%
Pensacola
98.8
Wilmington
93.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Pensacola
96.2
Wilmington
96.6
🚗 Transportation0.7%
Pensacola
103.8
Wilmington
103.1
🏥 Healthcare0.6%
Pensacola
93.9
Wilmington
93.3
Utilities0.7%
Pensacola
88.5
Wilmington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wilmington, NC
$78,900
$1,100 less needed in Wilmington

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 97.7) = salary × 0.9867. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Pensacola, FL

Median Home Price
$300,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
98.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.7×

Wilmington, NC

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

Pensacola has 5.7% lower housing costs compared to Wilmington.

Income & Job Market

Pensacola, FL

Median Household Income
$78,300
Per Capita Income
$44,600
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
53,831
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareTourismManufacturingRetail

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).

Pensacola, FL
3.8×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.