CostIndexUSA

Wichita, KS vs Wilmington, NC Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableKS
Wichita
88.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent
NC
Wilmington
96.4
overall index
$1,700/mo rent

Wichita is moderately cheaper than Wilmington — 8.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Wichita, you would need $86,800 in Wilmington. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+40.8%
Wichita
66.2
Wilmington
93.2
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Wichita
94
Wilmington
96.6
🚗 Transportation+4.7%
Wichita
98.5
Wilmington
103.1
🏥 Healthcare+4.7%
Wichita
89.1
Wilmington
93.3
Utilities0.7%
Wichita
88.5
Wilmington
87.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wilmington, NC
$86,800
$6,800 more needed in Wilmington

Formula: salary × (96.4 ÷ 88.9) = salary × 1.0844. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Wichita, KS

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
66.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Wilmington, NC

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

Wilmington has 40.8% higher housing costs compared to Wichita.

Income & Job Market

Wichita, KS

Median Household Income
$67,400
Per Capita Income
$38,400
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
397,532
Top Industries
AerospaceManufacturingHealthcareAgricultureEnergy

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).

Wichita, KS
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.